The Illustrated Gay bear

Illustrated Gay Bears

by Nicholas Monks

Inbtweeners, the fledgling New Zealand publishing and media company proudly presented their inaugural sharing session, “the illustrated Gay Bear”. The first in a series of participatory culture jams seeking to document hidden talents and untold stories that navigate the in-between or liminal state. Hosted at K Road’s Urge Bar, the event catered to members of the creative community who share an inclination to traverse different creative disciplines, and who wish to connect, network, and share in collaborative projects. The evening showcased the work of Graphic artists Don Chooi and Christophe Jannin, who guided an enthusiastic group through a unique participatory experience aimed at exploring and exchanging alternative ways of doing, thinking, and living.

Here at Inbtweeners it is our contention that the arbitrary labels conferred on people by the media, popular culture, and society at large necessitate from the individual a re-negotiation in the act of defining personal values, and locating identity. The “betwixt and between state” we promote in our sharing sessions works to stimulate creative exploration, and produces a malleable situation where new forms can emerge.

Christophe and Don opened the evening with a vibrant and humorous presentation of their erotic graphic art, leading the audience on a colourful journey through their personal illustrative explorations of gay sexuality and ‘Bear’ identity. Christophe described his artistic practice as a reflexive process “building myself drawing after drawing”, while maintaining a sensitivity to the human condition. Don discussed discrimination against Gay sexuality in his Malaysian homeland that eventually saw him relocate to the more liberal society of New Zealand. This relocation allowed him the freedom of expression to develop his unique voice as a Gay artist. He expressed empathy for those people whose identities fit outside of, or conflict with social norms.

Don and Christophe’s honest and easy rapport with the audience established an open and inclusive environment for the group sharing session. This revolved around the important role that creative relationships can play in the act of locating and defining identity, and was conveyed through the employment of traditional anatomy studies and drawing skills. Don and Christophe based the exercise on a sharing activity they use to investigate points of difference in their illustrative styles. The informal conversational process involves swapping rudimentary illustrations of figurative poses that each artist then develops in isolation, later coming together to compare results.

Accordingly, the Urge Bar illustration jam involved anatomical ‘Gay Bear’ templates being provided to participants. This offered a whimsical departure point for further illustrative musings on the points of difference that make us who we are. Each participant was invited to add overlays of sketching in the development of their ‘identity avatar’. The symbolic, metaphoric, and sometimes hilarious results were then presented by each participant in front of the group.

Attendees represented a diverse milieu, coming from different cultures, age groups, and creative backgrounds. Many were meeting for the first time. And yet, at the conclusion of the session, everybody connected on the same level, recognising that we are all Inbtweeners because we share in the heterogeneous nature of contemporary life.

At Inbtweeners we felt privileged to host such an enthusiastic group of creative types excited to share their talents, to forge new friendships, and who all contributed so generously to a highly rewarding sharing session. We’ll keep you up to date with what the Inbtweeners have in store next.