Current Exhibitions

This 5 and a half-minute video is homage to the undocumented love stories of many World War 2 servicemen. While this work is fictional, it reflects the lives of many men who turned to each other for comfort and companionship during this period of history, blurring the lines between heterosexuality and homosexuality.

For some, this secret remained with them when they returned home to their wives and families. While others were sentenced as criminals and some explored their desires in safer communities taking leave from the armed forces.

During the research phase for this work, the importance of language, secrecy and personal safety emerged. This is reflected in the video through the use of the title, which is a direct phrase used in the traditional “gay” language called Polari. This language was used by homosexual sailors as a way of communicating with each other when in the company of the general public. There are still many words from Polari that are used in the English vocabulary of contemporary Australia.

This short work intends to lift back the covers so that the viewer may experience the level of tenderness, friendship and intimacy, which made life at war a little easier to bear.

(m)-elly nio

(m)-elly nio is a recent graduate from the Queensland College of Art. His video piece Vade the Poloni with the Matini explores the intimate relationship between two sailors. Layering a combination of found and shot footage, this video uses a personal narrative to explore the complex relationships of men at sea during the end of the Second World War. Nio’s work is focused around queer identities, gender ambiguity, history and communities.