Joshua Starick

QUEER IDENTITY: GROWING UP IN REGIONAL AUSTRALIA AND ITS INFLUENCE ON ONE’S EVERYDAY LIFESTYLE

My creative research investigates the impact on queer people of an upbringing in rural Australia, examining their understanding of identity, community and connections between themselves and others. Through a series of interviews with people who have experienced an upbringing in rural Australia, my project captures and expresses many of the ideas and feelings of the impact of this on individuals. My project also examines the transition these individuals face in the migration between rural and metropolitan areas.

Paying homage to the stories and people involved in the project, I have created a book for everyone to embody and document their thoughts and feelings about their upbringing. With the intention of creating an archive of queer stories, I have also attempted to examine what a queer archive can be, and how it might manifest. Certain aspects of my project aim to challenge the idea of what a book can look like by using various materials in relation to the construction of the cover of each book.

Every book contains a copper plate print made from a previous or expended plate from my practice, and as a signifier, this has been devised to create a deeper connection to one’s past and to reflect our journeys. The works are based directly on transcribed interviews in the form of a quote.

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