A symposium is a philosophical discussion in which participants exchange ideas and opinions to create meaning. According to Plato’s Symposium, humans were once rounded and were two people of different genders (or the same gender) attached together. However, one day the God Zeus split them apart. In this exhibition, Culbert created her own 'Queer Symposium'.
Working with the Midlands LGBTQIA2+ Project, the queer symbols of the binder and the pink triangle were commented on and reacted to in a series of open discussions. This resulted in the recording of personal testimonies with three people of different genders from the group. These recordings were laid over moving images of copperplate etchings of gender-ambiguous figures inspired by Plato.
That later grew in scale and ambition to become an animated film of 20 minutes and 38 seconds. These copperplate etchings also form part of the exhibition in their static form. In addition, a zine containing the interviews and images was produced to enlighten, educate and spark questions in the minds of the reader about the ongoing story of gender. These three elements form their own queer contemporary symposium.
'A Queer Symposium'; Animated Film, 20 mins
'Symposium 1'; Copperplate etching, 47 x 57cm
'Symposium 2'; Copperplate etching, 47 x 57cm
'Symposium 3'; Copperplate etching, 47 x 57cm
'Symposium'; Copperplate etching, 47 x 57cm
'A Fragmentation Symposium'; Copperplate etching, 29.7 x 21cm
'A Queer Symposium Zine'; Riso printed zine. 50 percent of all proceeds will be donated to the Midlands LGBT Project in Co. Laois
Teaching Placements
St. Paul’s Secondary School, Monasterevin, Co. Kildare
Coláiste Íosagáin, Portarlington, Co. Offaly