XING HUN (形婚) BY DOTTI LI
Exhibition dates. 14 Jan - 2 Feb 2025
Opening Reception : Friday 17 Jan 2025, 6:00 - 9:00 pm
XING HUN (形婚)
As a Chinese immigrant navigating life between Australia and China, I’ve observed a unique family structure emerging in China: "sham marriages" between gay men and lesbians. These marriages, known as "Xing Hun," outwardly appear traditional but are a pragmatic response to societal pressures. Since gay marriage is illegal in China and many families struggle with accepting homosexuality, some LGBTQ individuals marry someone of the opposite sex to meet social expectations.
The *Xing Hun* project is about the real story of one such family a gay husband, a lesbian wife, and her partner. Married for 10 years, they present as a "normal" couple to their families, friends, and colleagues, while privately living with their respective partners. This project aims to reveal the hidden complexities of these arrangements.
Dotti Li is a visual photographer/artist based in Melbourne, dedicated to capturing moments with precision and infusing them with narrative depth. Passionate about both digital and film photography, I embark on a quest to immortalise fleeting instants, elevating the mundane to the sublime. Beyond merely a device, the lens serves as a gateway, inviting viewers to delve into the core of emotions, the allure of beauty, and the spirit of each composition. The work celebrates cultural diversity, expressed through a distinctive artistic vision that reveals the world as perceiving it.
