The First Gay Kit

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The First Gay Kit is an art piece that contains 19 objects that are hand packed and sealed. Each object represents a symbolic aspect of the closeted gay life. The overwhelming pink tones of the box, packaging and the objects represent the overused and stereotypical identification of gay community with the pink color, thus combining the visual aspects of the color with the idea of its 'femininity', 'softness' and/or 'weakness' to depict it as something that is not desirable. This emphasizes the absurdity of the idea that color and its physical specifications that are associated with the objects through the wavelength of the light that is reflected from them, can be identified with different cultural stereotypes. By using sarcasm and humor, the kit brings the emotional tolls of denying identity to light but at the same time gives hope by creating the feeling of community when there is none. Everyone has a specific story or experience of feeling overwhelmed and unsafe, yearning for support and relief and the aim of this kit is also to help other people understand that. This piece is purely a reflection of an individual artist experience of being gay and referrs exclusively on his perception of the enviroment he grew up in so it does not encompass experiences of the entire LGBTQ+ community. Nonetheless, the First Gay Kit represents some aspects that are at some point universal to all LGBTQ+ people such as fear and isolation in which we all can find ourselves no matter what our sexual preferences are.

DISCLAIMER: The work is not intended for distribution and all the objects inside are purely representational.

Contact:

firstgaykit@gmail.com