THE PALACE OF COLOUR
Lingam Brown
9–25 June 2023
"The Palace of Colour" is an introspective artistic exploration of a brown queer individual growing up in a heteronormative society. Through the powerful medium of self-portraiture, the artist skilfully weaves together elements from Indian history, particularly the Rajput caste and queerness, to challenge the erasure of queer identities within their cultural heritage. By assuming the personas of historical Rajput figures and employing negative space to symbolize erasure, the artist aims to reclaim and proudly represent their queer 'self' that has been marginalized in societal narratives. Drawing inspiration from Hindu texts, Hindu marriage rituals, and Rajput miniature paintings, the artist masterfully combines masculine and feminine sensibilities in their self-portraits, presenting a multifaceted representation of strength, authority, and beauty. Through their artistic practice, the artist not only validates their own queer identity but also asserts a sense of empowerment. By engaging with mythologies and societal conventions, the artist disrupts established norms, challenging the limited representations of queerness and reshaping historical narratives. "The Palace of Colour" invites viewers to critically reflect on the intersections of history, religion, and sexuality while celebrating the diverse expressions of queerness within cultural contexts.
Artist bio
Lingam Brown (they/them) is an Indian-born artist based in Sydney, Australia. With a diverse and multidisciplinary practice, Lingam primarily focuses on drawing but also incorporates painting, sculpture, and expansive site-based installations and performances into their artistic repertoire. Lingam Brown graduated with honours from the University of New South Wales in 2022. They were awarded Ross Steele Fine Arts Prize in 2021 at UNSW Galleries, Sydney, and Peoples’ Choice Award, Face Unframed in 2020 at Belconnen Arts Centre, Canberra. They were a finalist for Tim Olsen’s Drawing Prize in 2019, 2020 and 2021.
Recent exhibitions include:
“ME!”, Mounted ARI, Blue Mountains 2022;
Love Letters to The Horizon,Backspace Gallery, University of Sydney 2022;
Cut and Polish, Carriageworks, Sydney 2022;
A & D Annual 21, UNSW Galleries, Sydney 2021;
Tim OlsenDrawing Prize, AD Space, Sydney 2019-21;
F A C E Unframed, Belconnen Arts Centre, Canberra 2020;
my brain but not my brain, Kudos Gallery, Sydney 2020;
LLOYD Rees Memorial Youth Art Awards, Gallery Lane Cove, Sydney 2019;
Vision in Ink, Gallery Lane Cove, Sydney 2019
