Visual Sociology of Resistance

Below is my visual sociology for the first quarter of the year, from January to March, 2019. Take a journey from the Central Coast to Melbourne, and back to Sydney. This is part of my Weekends With a Sociologist series. Much of the imagery feature elements of social justice, protest or resistance, perfectly encapsulating what fuels my perseverance as a blogger and visual sociologist. More coming very soon. Enjoy!

Something for everybody

The year started hot and creative. Having gotten yet another tattoo for my birthday only a month earlier, I went back to Japanese-Australian artist, Hitome, from Broadway Tattoo, to get my next piece. I had long been looking for a woman of colour artist to entrust my intricate pieces, and she was wonderful, smart and easy to work with.

The parlour features a large black and white framed poster with art by Good Time Charlie and a quote from Leonard “Stoney” St Clair (below). 2-4 January 2019

“I am in the business of rendering a service to this community for the small group of people who choose to have their bodies decorated in some way or another. I choose my intelligence and skill, wishing not to offend anyone, but instead with my love of mankind, do what good I can before I die.”

Neon sign of a devil creature with horns and a moustache, says "Tattoo" at the bottom

Frosted glass with "Broadway Tattoo" sign drawn across thhe centre and a drawing of a top hat. Framed by red curtains

Black and white poster behind glass wth various drawings around the edges, showing animals, skulls, flowers, flags and hearts. In the centre is writing, mostly hard to read. Notably it says: Something For Everybody, by Good Time Charlie.Broadway Tattoo, Sydney

1950s tattoo artwork displayed at a black counter. Shows a cobra saying 'Cash only.' The larger sign shows a cartoon woman with a banner that reads, "Trixie," and the larger lettering: Custom Electric Tattoos. AtBroadway Tattoo, Sydney

Various glass cabinets full of jewellry and folders sit against a large white wall. A white metal chandalier hangs from the centre

A glass cabinet holds various displays of ear, nose, eyebrow and nipple rings. Large framed artworks show Japanese art and a skeleton with writing that is hard to read

Sydney Festival

Sydney is super fun in January, as the Sydney Festival showcases public art and performances from local and international creators. The first of two highlights was Deer Woman, from Canada. Telling the story of a First Nations woman who seeks revenge for her sister, the one-woman tour de force deals with sexual abuse, violence against women and colonial violence in a poignant and surprisingly funny way. The play was developed by Indigenous artists Tara Beagan and Andy Moro for Blackfoot woman and actress, Cherish Violent Blood. The stage was stripped bare, with just two screens reflecting infrared video of deer in the night, an esky, a tripod, and the opening of a tent, bundling a horrific secret.

Enjoy the voyage to the venue, the historic Carriageworks, which always features interesting posters. The nearby anti-colonialism street art is fitting, as a stark reminder of the seemingly endless gentrification of Redfern, loci of Aboriginal resistance and self-determination in central Gadigal land.

And that weathered freight train? It’s a regular fixture of my weekend commute.

Large set of posters at Carriageworks shows various shows at the Syndey Festival. A large space can be seen in the background

The audience can be seen in the bottom of the foreground. The stage is empty except for two large panels projecting green images of deers outdoors at night. There is an esky and tripd camera set up in the centre

A building has a roller door with colourful street art. Drawn in a cartoon style from The Planet of the Apes, a purple figure in a military-style helmet says: It's time to end colonial power'

A large yellow freight cart sits at a train station

The other highlight of the Sydney Festival was the installation Until by Black American artist, Nick Cave, which explored issues of racism, police brutality and violence though the use of glistening chandeliers, hanging crystals, beads and wind spinners. It looks beautiful and shiny, until you get up close and see symbols of guns and other signs that nothing is as it seems. 19 January 2019

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Invasion Day

The Invasion Day rally in Sydney was part of a national day of protest over the Australia Day long weekend. The holiday marks the genocide and dispossession of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This day will never be inclusive or live up to ideals of multiculturalism, as it is a Day of Mourning for First Nations people. We need to not just change the date but also change the nation. Aboriginal people are telling the country that this is the time for truth-telling of our national history, a Voice to Parliament and Makarrata (treaty), as outlined in the Uluru Statement From the Heart. We marched at the Invasion Day rally from Hyde Park South to the Yabun Festival. Read more on my blog. 26 January 2019

Invasion Day - no pride in genocide. We don't celebrate genocide

Suellyn Tighe founding member of Grandmothers Against Removals

Invasion Day - Torres Strait Islander flag

Invasion Day - Alway was, always will be Aboriginal land

Sign remembers the injustice of David Dungay, who died in police custody

Invasion Day - Muslim woman holds Aboriginal flag

Chicha

It’s always my birthday somewhere… Inca’s Restaurant in Darlinghurst is one of the greatest gastronomic adventures around, featuring the world’s most rewarding cuisine, straight from the beautiful and eternal culture of Peru. 1 February 2019

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The Rocks

The Rocks Markets in Sydney are a weekly fixture, and especially fun during summer.. If you think I missed my opportunity to eat paella as a reward for my visual sociology, you are very mistaken. 3 February 2019

A woman walks in the foreground in a bright sleeveless top. Other people walk in summer clothes in the background or sit in cafes eating

Street art against a salmon door. A beautiful blue, purple, yellow and black cosmic scene shows dogs, stars and other non-descriptfigures

Red canopies shade multiple market stalls at the Rocks, Sydney. People walk in shorts and summer clothing

Bright coloured van displays fruits and juices. The sign says: Fruit Ice Drinks. An Asian woman leans forward inside a campervan portable shop, listening intently to an order

Delicious yellow rice with chicken sits on a pink table with orange juice in the background

My hand holds a bright yellow mango drink. People walk in the background or sit in cafes

Happy Lunar New Year

Every year, Sydney hosts Sydney-based Australian and overseas-born Chinese artists who create giant LED light sculptures representing the Lunar horoscope. This is the Year of the Pig. Enjoy these marvelous works. Sociologists, note in particular the LGBTQIA celebration by artist Guo Jian, who uses the The Rat to convey queer pride, a message amplified with the word “love” suspended high above the gay rodents dancing on a rainbow. (I missed photographing one of the signs – the dragon – because of exhaustion and my injured foot!) 6 February 2019

A man stand in the right foreground, arms folded and head to the side, taking stock of the giant pink pig. The pig

Hero Pig

High above people stopping to stare and take photos, are six pearl-coloured rats dressed mostly in lingere. They wave their arms joyfully standing on a rainbow that people can walk underneath. They signify LGBTQIA pride and the Chinese character for "love" hangs high above the dancing rodents

The Rat – sociable

A white and red stripped ox has its head down and seems to be charging forward atop a grey and black marble set of waves, representing the scholar's rock. People walk in the middle background, against the sculpture three times their size, in a book in front of other buildings

The Ox – strength

A yellow and black-striped tiger lays out on a lawn. The tiger lantern's size is in contrast to the bankground of skyscrapers - at half their size, with people looking diminutive in comparison in the middle groun=d

The Tiger, born leader

People pose for photographs in front of eight rabbits double their size. The yellow and orange rabbits are dressed in yellow and blue robes with their bodies stretching down, in a tai chi pose

The Rabbit – trustworthy

A woman and man are seen in the foreground from behind, shading their eyes as they lean back to take in the massive snake in the oveseas passanger terminal at The Rocks, Sydney. The snake's body is textured yellow, with a massive red tongue extended and the Chinese characters for "happiness" written across its eyes, to signify good fortune in the coming year

The snake, intuitive

Four hourses in multicoloured yellow, red and green blocks are in the background, arranged as a chariot, which children could climb into. In the background is the massive Sydney Opera House and the water

The Horse, courageous and the greatest horoscope sign

A red metal merino sheep stands at 2.5 meters, in the mid-ground, surrounded by trees, near the Oversas Passanger Terminar, and the Sydney Opera House in the far background

The Sheep – noble

Two brighly plumaged roosters have their wings spread out in a dance fight. People talk past mostly ignoring the plucky eight-metre warriors in the busy Circular Quay outdoors shopping and restaurant district

The Rooster – confidence

People stand in the foreground, waiting patiently and respectfully for a turn to take their photo with a tower of five cute, brightly-coloured monkeys standing on top of one another's heads. In the background is the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge against a clear, blue-sky. The monkeys are juggling a gaint blue and yellow peach at the top of their primate tower

The Monkey – clever and adaptable

Standing at quadriple the size of the average person, the giant yellow dog has its red tongue hanging out. It sits on its hind legs, propped up by its front legs, its chest out. It is wearing a blue cheongsam, decorated with beautiful red and white flowers

The Dog – honest and loyal

People in the foreground take photos of a large white sculpture, which on closer inspection is made of hundreds of white pig faces with pink noses and ears, and in other places, pig bums with pink curly tails. The sculpture is immersive, and you can walk around the inside in a circle. The Sydney Opera House can be seen in the background on a sunny day

The Pig, generous

Stop forced adoptions

I attended the protest to stop forced adoptions in New South Wales. This year is the 11th anniversary of former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s Apology to the Stolen Generations. On this day, the Grandmothers Against Removals were calling to reverse unfair legislation that would irrevocably separate Aboriginal children from their families. Indigenous children are removed at four times the rate since the Bringing Them Home report, which chronicled the impact of intergenerational trauma of forced removals in 1992. Read more on my blog. 13 February 2019

Cow Guardians of the Galaxy

The scene before us exactly summarises the change in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria: small statue of a cow in the middle of the street. This country town is starting to become a little more hipster each time I see it, as the urban sprawl pushes out people into rural regions. I was visiting town with my oldest friend, whom I’ve known since I was born. We had lunch (what else, but all day breakfast?), we walked around, and talked about how much things have changed since we were younger. 17 February 2019.

A quaint Bacchus Marsh street is home to a small cow statue

Gorgeous courtyard full of trees. People sit together in the background dressed for summer. A sign high above says: No Smoking

Close-up of a breakfast feast, including sour dough, poached eggs, spinach and avocado with a hashbrown. Another breakfast of eggs Benedict can be seen in the background

Serpent of life

I visited the Central Coast in February to do some volunteering on a youth project I had worked on late last year. I stayed near the Hawkesbury train station, which had a few cute shops and places to eat. The place I stayed at had some fierce Sociology of Hotel Art: a bunch of angry, staring birds!

Photographed from high, a beautiful street surrounded by large trees. People congregate together in the midde-ground

A White woman is seen from the back, walking down stairs. A White man walks at the bottom of the stairs. A street is seen in the background

Water scence with grey skies. The side of the Hawkesbury Train Station can be seen

Inside a cafe. A wooden desk with various open draws showing coffee sacks and a coffee maker. Images of Ray Charles and Johnny Cash on the walls

Hawkesbury shop. Post office personal lockers sit above various signs that say: "lollies," "drinks," and advertise pies

Oval painting of a pelican's eye and neck hung on a white wall

The first photo below is of artwork at Hornsby train station, New South Wales. The Rainbow Serpent evokes the Dreaming stories of Ku-ring-gai and Darug people in the region. The other scenes are from other parts of town, including a stark metal statue and fountain and the local cinema. As is customary in my visual sociology of rural and remote regions, I seek out the restaurants run by migrants and support their business. In this case, a Chinese restaurant, House of Canton, run by lovely Chinese women. 22 February 2019

serpant hornsby station385147310221561849..jpg

A woman and girl are in summer dresses, walking through two food trucks in the rain

An Asian woman is walking near a tree at the outdoors Hornsby mall, with colourful vans and shops behind her

Nighttime, Hornsby. A large metal statue and fountain is odd-looking, featuring a water mill and pipes

A large confectionary shop at the cinemas

Night time, the exterior of House of Canton includes Cantonese writing in neon red sign and the entrace is lit up

Welcome to Mardi Gras!

Central Station, Sydney, Mardi Gras weekend 2019. 3 March 2019

A man walks in the middle-grown wearing a backpack. In the background is a large arch made from balloons meant to evoke the Pride Flag

People walk in the background inside the grand Central Station. A sign shows an arrow and a person walking. It says: "Mardi gras walking route." In the background is the Eddy Ave exit sign

People walk and talk at the grand Central Station, Sydney. There is an arch of balloons made in the pride flag colours

International Women’s Day

For International Women’s Day, I attended the event, In Conversation – Governor-Designate The Honourable Margaret Beazley AO QC. She is a White Anglo-Australian woman whose mother did not finish secondary school, as she was forced to quit at the end of Year 9 because she was impoverished. Beazley trained as a lawyer and has always been interested in, ‘The love of the “why” of things.’ Beazley began her speech talking about the history of International Women’s Day, which started as a socialist movement. (Thrilling to hear a lawyer talk sociology!)

Her advice for large groups of women is:

‘There’s no good time to have children. Have your kids. Don’t think, “I’ll work for 5 years, 10 years, until I get to this grade.” You gotta let life happen in your own patterns.’

She also said that women sharing their personal stories of gender inequity is important. But we need more organisational level statistical surveys to unravel what’s actually happening in different sectors. For example, Beazley says the government contributes to gender pay disparity in law, because women lawyers are less likely to be employed in the private sector, and lower-paying contracts tend to be awarded to women.

She also advocated for sustainable programs that improve literacy for people who are incarcerated, so they have the necessary skills to navigate life when they are released from prison. She also said she’s keen for the state to tackle its over-policing of Aboriginal youth. 7 March 2019

How to Rule the World

I went to see Nakkiah Lui’s new play, ‘How to Rule the World.’ Highly recommended for incisive political satire about Indigenous sovereignty, the demonisation of refugees, ethics, and what it takes for middle class Aboriginal people and other people of colour to gain mainstream political power. 11 March 2019

By the way, if you’re reading this in Melbourne, Lui’s previous play, Blackie Blackie Brown is currently doing a short run at the Malthouse. It’s rambunctious fun about avenging colonial violence in modern times. Go check it out!

Large poster shwing three people of colour: Aboriginal woman and playright Nakkiah Lui wearing black glasses, an Asian woman (Michelle Lim Davidson) and a Togan man (Anthony Taufa). Theatre goers can be seen sitting at tables in the background

Stage at the Syndey Opera House. A White office with wooden chairs and the Aboriginal, Torres Strait and Austalian flags in the background

This is 18

This outdoors photographic exhibition was on at the Sydney Opera House. The exhibition is by young women around the world, documenting life for other 18 year old women in their communities. 11 March 2019

Make a wish

Memories of spending most of the day in an interesting cafe in Melbourne, in between other meetings and a workshop. 12 March 2019

Celluloid factory

Dendy Cinemas at Circular Quay. 12 March 2019

Democracy sausage

In March, we voted in our State Election! I went to the polls to say: down with Nazis, end the demonisation of vulnerable and marginalised people, and kill-off fear politics. I said yes to Aboriginal sovereignty and state endorsement of the Uluru Statement, climate action, removing racial discrimination from the legal system, increasing inclusion for migrants and refugees, informed health policies, increased funding and self-advocacy for the independence and dignity of disabled people, uplifting youth civic participation, and better outcomes for students in schools, vocational training and University. I noted for respect and fairness for all.

My democracy sausage and I were ready for progress and change; and we’ll do it all again next time.

For those overseas: Australians buy a sausage to celebrate our vote. Little community stands are set up to sell hot dogs and lamingtons to raise money for charity, schools or for community organisations. Most of us vote at schools, or in my case, the town hall.

After my vote and sausage, I then spent the day in gorgeous Redfern, which has lovely protest street art everywhere (check out homophic ex-Prime Minister Tony Abbott marrying himself). I indulged in lovely all-day breakfast, my favourite part of visual sociology! 23 March 2019

A green and white sign in the foreground says: Vote 1 The Greens. In the background is the Redfern Town Hall, which looks like a large house. Cars and various sign are out the front

Close-up of a delicious, plain sausage in white sliced bread, held by a red napkin. You can see part of my wrist and a park in the background

Street art. A large building has darwing of fierce tomatoes with bright white fangs, angry eyes and its vines look like large claws. On the botoom, we can see the artist's name, Ellice

Streetart in Redfern. A mural shows a large fantastical brown and yellow landscape with trees and smiling stars and sun. A person sits cross-legged, with an upside-down nose that looks like a drain

Taken from across the road, street art adorns a large building and cafe. It shows Australia's former Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, drawn in a suit and he is also in a white bridal gown with lipstick. He is infamously homophobic and opposed to marriage equality

Street art takes up the entire side of a large building. Features beautiful pastel and muted colours of yellow, red and white. Small white houses have red and purple trees growing out of them, and yellow and lime hils are in the background. There is a discarded cloth in the foreground beneath a 'Give way to pedestrians' sign

Photo of the ceiling inside Hunter's Corner cafe. Various green plants hang from the ceiling and lights. In the background is an open doorway and various, mostly empty, bottles

A corner cafe. South Asian women are walking out, while White and Asian women sit together eating out the front, with their pram

Hunter's Corner all-day-breakfast. In the foreground, one piece of soudough has two poached eggs with black pepper, and a side red sauce. In the background is a half-drunk orange juice and iced chocolate. People can be seen in the distance

Our boy gift book

And that was what the early part of 2019 looked like for this sociologist! We end here, on what I guess is meant to be a store’s display of delightful patriarchy? 24 March 2019