A ‘symbol of growth for fastest growing city
As a young closeted gay man living in Hamilton in the early 2000s, artist Paul Darragh didn’t feel safe.
Now, over 20 years later, he’s created a monument to LGBTQI+ history that could soon stand proudly in the centre of town.
“Progress Pillar” was created for the Boon Sculpture Trail. All sculptures on the trail were on sale, and many were sold, but city councillor Louise Hutt has her eye on Progress Pillar to keep in the city permanently.
Darragh’s idea for the sculpture, inspired by Boon’s artist prompt of “this place”, was to “reclaim those anxious former years [in Hamilton] and create a positive and joyous beacon of LGBTQI+ pride”.
He lived in Hamilton as a high school graduate studying at Wintec.
“At that time I was still closeted, very shy, very unsure of myself. [I was] getting yelled at out of cars on Victoria St, and even though I was happy at tech and making friends and enjoying my classes, I also wasn’t happy,” Darragh said.
“Because I really wanted that freedom of a more accepting place.”
Even in more recent years he’s had trouble in the city.
He doesn’t live here now, but he remembers holding hands with his current partner on Victoria St when someone drove past him and yelled a slur out the window.
“And I thought, ah that’s a shame”, he said.
“But the other thing that happened was that there was a woman walking in front of us, and she yelled back in our defence, just as loudly and just as obscenely, ‘f… you!’.
And then turned around to say ‘f… that guy’ to us.”
That’s the side of Hamilton that he wants to see more of, and hopes that this sculpture will bring out the joy and love in people.
“I think ultimately it’s a symbol of growth for myself, and for the city,” Darragh said.
“I always want to invoke joy in my artwork with its colour and shapes. So even though the context of this piece is all these markers of gay history, I would want anybody to get something from it.”
The sculpture displays 12 panels, each representing markers in LQBTQI+ history, both worldwide and in Aotearoa, including iconic figures like Georgina Beyer, and historic events like Stonewall.
Boon Arts approached city councillor Louise Hutt about crowdfunding to purchase the sculpture and gift it to the city after the sculpture trail had ended.
Concerned about news of rainbow crossings being painted over and rainbow story-times being cancelled, and evidence that similar issues are creeping into Hamilton, Hutt jumped at the chance.
“We had a queer event at the library significantly disrupted and the police were called,” Hutt said.
“And that was really distressing for not only members of the rainbow community, but also for the council and library staff that were there supporting the event.”