For Durham Street West [Men’s Convenience], Shaun Thomas McGill drew on his advocacy of and research into queer histories in Aotearoa New Zealand, producing a body of work based on Durham Street West, an historical gay cruising site in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.
Learning of the demolition of the site for the construction of Tāmaki Makaurau’s City Rail Link development, Thomas McGill produced a series of works referencing the site and his research-based engagement with it; these included a number of screen prints, which recall the screens that separated the stalls at Durham Street West, as well as an etched mirror that reference the rubbings and photographs taken by Thomas McGill on his many trips to learn about the site.
The exhibition was also accompanied by a public talk featuring representatives from Rainbow Youth, New Zealand AIDS Foundation, Body Positive Inc. and members from Elam School of Fine Art’s LGBTQIA+ whānau to celebrate the history of Durham Street West.
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Durham Street West [Men's Convenience] – publication