Telly Tuita

Born 1980, Tonga
Bachelor of Visual Arts
Graduation show: 2001
Graduation ceremony: 2004


Artwork in Space YZ

Cruise, 2003
Series of six photographic images
60 x 60 cm each

My childhood in Christian Tonga is a contrast to the period of my life captured in these images – the 2000s, living in Campbelltown and attending UWS at Penrith. Having come-out in my last year of high school, sex and the naked body gave rise to guilt and shame as I embarked upon my journey at Z block. I was in a position of freedom to explore and document moments that were, and still are, considered taboo. I wanted to look at the very act that repulsed - men having sex with men but, equally, men being erotic and sensual.

As the title suggests, ‘cruising’ is the action and process of seeking sexual fulfilment in public, something I had become aware of and curious about in my first-year of university. It was the first time I had gay friendships where I would learn even more about gay culture, including gay saunas, parties and queer history. These intimate images show a level of freedom in Sydney that allowed some of us, specifically young queer people, to live with relative freedom – to just be here.

In these images, I subvert the power balance by being both the exotic, youthful, Adonis seductress as well as the engineer and dominant observer, gazing uninterrupted as events unfold from behind the camera. Unfazed by being watched, two figures go about their business while another person, unnoticed, voyeuristically peeks over the fence. (This figure was not noticed until after the images were produced). Most importantly, these images show the pivotal moment when I cast aside feelings of shame and guilt about my identity as both a gay and Tongan man.

Art school. Art. Studio. The Art world. Artwork. Artist. History. People. Identity. It was an education for a lifetime. Not being very academic, it was highly validating to be accepted into the course following my interview and consideration of examples of artworks. It would be my studio practice and the guidance of many artist/lecturers that left the lasting legacy of my time at UWS and at Z block - Julie Rrap, Cheo Chai-Hiang and Bette Mifsud to name a few. I would also become the first member in my family to receive a university degree.

Immediately after completing my BA Fine Arts and being from a working-class family, I was encouraged to gain my BA Art Education. My art career would take a backseat to my teaching career for 12 years. Relocating to Wellington (Aotearoa) three years ago, I have been able to maintain a productive full-time studio practice. I credit my time at UWS to giving me the skills and confidence to be able to do this.