Memories and documentation of my own childhood as well as more current experiences inform my interrogation of understandings of normality in relation to gender. Much of my imagery is driven by a childhood desire to be perceived as male. Resulting self-portraits—typically comprised of a characteristically male body and my face—depict ambiguously gendered selves. I explore transgender identity through this continual self-portraiture, which is politicised by my public failure to conform to gender norms when the works are exhibited. By both resisting and engaging with popular understandings of transsexual narratives, I aim to highlight some alternatives to the strict binary understandings of gender that constantly proliferate within our society.

Tyza is represented by Heiser Gallery Brisbane.

Image: Untitled (self) Instal shot (detail), mixed media, dimensions variable (2012)

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