This body of work explores intimacy from my perspective as a queer non-binary young person experiencing the world during the Covid pandemic in Narrm/Melbourne 2020-2021. During lockdowns, many have had to renavigate intimacy. I have personally redefined intimacy for myself and re-established methods of connecting with my community.

Psychotherapist Virginia Satir states that “we need 4 hugs a day to survive, 8 hugs to maintain ourselves and 12 hugs to grow,” and whilst this fact may be pseudoscientific, it has greatly influenced me and informed much of the making of this body of work. The use of textiles in these soft sculptures underpins the understanding of the work and the importance of intimacy to me. The work visually references a history of queer textile artists such as Paul Yore and LJ Roberts. Much like these artists, I have embraced the tactile, touchable nature of the materials to mimic an ‘intimacy’ with the viewer and to explore how I redefined intimacy for myself during lockdowns. To express how lockdowns have distorted my perspective of immediate surroundings, I use surreal scales and unexpected materials with everyday objects to amplify the feeling of familiarity, unpacking a new perspective of domesticity. Using soft sculpture I hope to capture a queer experience of Covid-19.

Lil is a 23 year old, third year Bachelor of Fine Art student living and creating on Wurundjeri land of the Kulin Nation. They are specialising in Print at RMIT University. Their practice extends to sculpture, ceramics and textiles in addition to print media. Their work explores political, environmental and societal issues; through the lens of being queer and in relation to interpersonal connection and communication. They are interested in collective and community focussed art and the potential of interactive art to engage wider audiences into the art world.

Follow their work online at https://lilylongman.wixsite.com/lilyl or @lilypillypoodleyworm on instagram.

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unhooked, 2021  

soft sculpture  

950 x 1000 x 800 mm

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unhooked (detail), 2021  

soft sculpture

dimensions variable

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unplugged, 2021  

soft sculpture  

250 x 400 x 250 mm

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unplugged (detail), 2021  

soft sculpture  

250 x 400 x 250 mm

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unhooked and untapped (installed), 2021  

soft sculpture

dimensions variable 

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untapped, 2021  

soft sculpture  

950 x 600 x 650 mm

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untapped (detail), 2021  

soft sculpture  

950 x 600 x 650 mm

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unhooked, 2021  

soft sculpture

dimensions variable

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