I love India for its progressive attitude to gender: Xxxora

Michael Jackson

Q. Give our readers an insight into yourself and your work.
A. I was born in London and have lived here all my life. I was very fortunate to have a family that loves me regardless of my unisex gender. I first came into contact with art at an early age as my parents liked artists such as Pablo Picasso, but I started creating artworks, two years ago. Now, I am about to embark on my most ambitious series of art exhibitions, The Silver Bo(x).

An artwork by Xxxora depicting Pop star Michael Jackson

Q. Tell us about the Silver Bo(x).
A. The Silver Bo(x) is a series of art exhibitions I am hosting around London at the moment (which are linked to the eponymous campaign) to reclaim unisex in law and culture. Our societies are ignorant to the prevalence, significance and splendour of unisex in all aspects of life blossoming around us, including in our own species. The Silver Bo(x) calls for an end to the genital mutilation, modification and disrespect of nature. My art is a beacon that allows the audience to see androgyny not as an oddity or just fashion, but also a biological reality and foundation of all species of separate sex. Unisex people are classified as having a "disorder" by the British medical establishment. The disorder here clearly is tradition. My artworks unify us with the beauty of nature around us, begging the spectator to realise that no one chooses the body they are born into and that it is evil and illogical to abuse or discriminate against others because they do not fit into the traditional black or white boxes for gender.

British artist Xxxora's (in pic) works primarily focus on androgyny and hermaphroditic species

Q. Your art is edgy. Have you ever received strong reactions for speaking your mind?
A. My art is based upon scientific reality and biological facts. Darwin and other scientific pioneers were challenged and are still challenged by those who prefer to live their lives according to tradition. Tradition has always stood in the way of enlightenment, being especially invasive towards science. But science has the answers, and rejecting scientific evidence is like rejecting sanity. I use my artworks as catalysts for social change because I have endured cruel and illogical prejudice against me. The society I grew up in educated everyone around me incorrectly, painting over the spectrum of gender with an oppressive black-and-white forced binary regime. I understand that our species has evolved into a predominantly male or female form but the middle ‘Unisex' gender does exist, and has existed in civilisations around the world for thousands of years. Cultures such as in classical Greece, ancient Egypt or even India, have recognised and revered the third gender. Reactions to my art have been positive and intriguing. It fascinates me that so many don't see the normality and frequency of unisex in nature until they view my artworks.

Q. Will India see your works?
A. I am excited to announce that I have a major solo art exhibition opening in Mumbai, later this year (check my website for dates soon). I am looking forward to bringing my artworks to a country that has such a progressive attitude to gender. India is special because it has a tradition of a third gender in culture and now, in law. I love India because it is a society that recognises the transcendental spirit of a human being, before the physical body. The most important thing is the brain, not the genitals, but in Western society, we are boxed at birth according to our genitals. I will be creating artworks which merge the beauty of Indian mysticism with the wonders of nature in a Silver Bo(x) art exhibition, the likes of which India has never seen before.

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