Diamond Stingily at Queer Thoughts

Artist: Diamond Stingily

Exhibition title: Kaas

Venue: Queer Thoughts, New York, US

Date: May 6 – June 19, 2016

Photography: all images copyright and courtesy of the artist and Queer Thoughts

“I have seen all the dead seasons,” Kaa said at last, “and the great trees and the old elephants, and the rocks that were bare and sharp-pointed ere the moss grew. Art thou still alive…” – Kaa, The Jungle Book

It is a lonely life to be a snake. To be ancient, forever in your prime. A mentor and a friend becomes the enemy when one cannot speak. The mentor, the friend still cast their skin in order to grow knowing there is beauty in struggles.

Was Medusa a Gorgon or a misunderstood woman? There would be hesitation to say she was evil if the listener could hear her speak.

The Jungle Book is a misinterpreted childhood favorite. The fear of snakes is possibly the fear of oneself. Afraid of seduction, the confidence and being hypnotised by the charmer.

“They taunted me, they called me Medusa,” said the girl, “They told me I looked like the comedic snake, the Disney version. I didn’t know he was powerful, majestic, to be respected. And like him I learned who I was and now I know who I am.”

Queer Thoughts is honored to present Kaas, the first New York solo exhibition by Diamond Stingily.

Diamond Stingily is an artist and writer based in New York. Her work has been presented in solo exhibitions at Egg, Chicago; A1, Chicago; and in a two-person exhibition (with Martine Syms) at Project Row Houses in Houston. Group exhibitions include Arcadia Missa, London; Queer Thoughts, New York and Nicaragua; Ramiken Crucible, Los Angeles, and a forthcoming project with Publishing House in Gstaad, Switzerland. Her writing has been performed and exhibited at Signal Gallery, Brooklyn and Chin’s Push, Los Angeles, among others, and a publication of her writing was released through Dominica, Los Angeles. This is her first solo exhibition with the gallery.

Diamond Stingily, Kaa, 2016