BIG BAD WOLF: WHAT BIG EYES YOU HAVE
Once upon a time, there was a pretty little girl who would always wear a red riding cloak, and everyone called her Little Red Riding Hood.
One morning, Little Red Riding Hood was ordered by her mother to send cookies to her grandmother.
“Remember, don’t dawdle along the way and take the main road! The woods are dangerous.” her mother cautioned.
But Little Red Riding Hood did not take her mother’s advice seriously and got distracted in the woods by exotic flowers…
Big Bad Wolf: What Big Eyes You Have is my exploration of the shame associated with sex and sexual organs, and how this shame can impact one’s agency in protecting oneself from inappropriate sexual behaviour, particularly for children. A shameful perception of sex is common to many countries and cultures, including in my home country, Malaysia. This can lead to victims of sex crimes, especially children, not seeking help because of shame, or through insufficient knowledge to identify sex grooming.
Through this series, I attempt to activate viewers from different countries and cultures to reframe the pre-conceived notions of sex, genitalia and sexuality. Perhaps, if we do not label sex topics as shameful, and provide comprehensive sex education to prevent sex grooming, there may be fewer victims of grooming.
Jiayi Quek (b.2000, Malacca, Malaysia) has participated in multiple exhibitions in Malaysia, Singapore and Australia. Recent exhibitions include A4 (2022) at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) and CORONA (2021) during the Singapore Art Week. Jiayi received the Dean’s List Award for Academic Year 2018/2019 and Academic Year 2019/2020 during her time at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA).
Jiayi has been a workshop assistant for artist Dr. Wang Ruo Bing, Mr. Sai Hua Kuan, Mr. Chiew Sien Kuan, Ms. Yoko Choi, and Mr. Justin Loke. She was also a volunteer artwork facilitator for Franz Erhard’s First Work Set in the National Gallery of Singapore.
Jiayi is currently making new works and preparing for exhibitions in Australia.