Nathan Beard deftly interrogates his Thai-Australian heritage through careful historical research and tongue-in-cheek experimentation. In his latest exhibition, wrly titled White Gilt (at Cool Change Contemporary until 27 July) he interrogates the cultural associations and idiosyncrasies of various hand gestures found in traditional Thai culture, most notably the wai, as well as the brass nail extensions worn by dancers to accentuate their movements.
Beard’s contemporary interpretations appear to have been created by some demonic manicurist, with some of the most ferocious claws alluding to the anxieties and emotional entanglements Beard has felt towards the symbolism of various gestures. These include the “cultural inauthenticity” of the wai, fostered “through its ritualized performance in social and familial contexts” as well as its awkward use by tourists and imprisoned Westerners, who perform the gesture as a symbol of contrition.
