Marriage Equality: A Choice for a New Society in the Same Old World

Love is boundless. In today’s world, love has become a catalyst for continuous societal change, gaining widespread acceptance and evolving into something universally recognized. One such development is the matter of law.

Same as the exhibition ‘The Mansion of Plates’, Yuree Kensaku draws part of her inspiration for this conceptual work from the Sailor Moon, she considers this iconic cartoon to be a revolution for the cartoons that broke away from the male-dominated protagonists of its time by introducing a group of female warriors who fought villains independently, emphasizing the image of equality.

However, Sailor Moon goes beyond gender equality. It also addresses themes of same-sex love and LGBTQ+ representation. Among the female warriors, two characters are in a same-sex relationship, sparking Yuree’s creative journey to produce works like ‘The LGBTQ+ Sailors in the World of Two Suns and Sailor Usagi from the Rainbow Universe’. She reimagines these LGBTQ+ Sailors using animal characters known for same-sex relationships in nature, such as Albatrosses, dolphins, monkeys, penguins, and giraffes. Through these characters, the artist conveys her message to viewers.

A closer look at the monkey’s finger reveals a large pink gemstone ring, symbolizing equal marriage rights. Yuree subtly highlights the issue of marriage equality, referencing the Equal Marriage Act recently enacted on January 23, 2025. This law grants individuals of all gender identities the right to register their marriage. The fight for marriage equality in Thailand has spanned more than a decade, with the country becoming the third in Asia and the first in Southeast Asia to achieve this milestone.

It is evident that the conceptual framework for this collection not only celebrates the strong roles of women in a new world or reimagines timeless narratives but also emphasizes the importance of equality, which serves as a central theme of this exhibition. Experience these stories firsthand at the exhibition The Mansion of Plates. On display until March 16, 2025 at JWD Art Space.

Read more about this exhibition from Miwako Tezuka > https://www.jwd-artspace.com/en/exhibitions/the-mansion-of-plates/

About an artwork in this page

(1) The LGBTQ+ Sailors in the World of Two Suns (เหล่าเซเลอร์ LGBTQ+ ในโลกที่มีอาทิตย์ 2 ดวง), 2024
Dimension: 120 X 240 cm.
Medium: Acrylic, glitter and collage on canvas

(2) Sailor Usagi from the Rainbow Universe (เซเลอร์อุซางิในจักรวาลสีรุ้ง), 2024
Dimension: 200 X 170 cm.
Medium: Spray, acrylic and glitter on linen