Pakiboy²’, a provocative and deeply personal multi-channel film installation by artist
Jiva Parthipan, will premiere on Saturday 29 March at Campbelltown Arts Centre. This unique work revisits and reimagines Parthipan’s seminal dance piece, first performed in London in 2000, confronting themes of identity, race, ageing, and desire through the lens of the artist’s lived experience.
The installation pairs archival footage of the original ‘Pakiboy’ (2000) performance with a newly filmed ‘Pakiboy²’ (2025) placing the artist in dialogue with his younger self, creating a poignant and visually compelling exploration of his 50-year-old body, one that has not danced in over 20 years and is now diagnosed with a degenerative neurological condition, Parkinson’s Disease.
The project reflects on the artist’s journey through time, exploring the profound shifts in his body and identity over two decades. The journey of ‘Pakiboy²’ is one of resilience and creative reinvention. Born in Sri Lanka, Jiva Parthipan’s practice has always been deeply rooted in the intersections of identity, race, sexuality, and social justice. Over his decades-long career, Parthipan has traversed mediums and continents, working as a dancer, filmmaker, and interdisciplinary artist in London, Sydney, Paris, South Africa, Switzerland and Dublin.
Exhibition Launch: Saturday 29 March 2025 5:00pm – 7:00pm
Artist Talk: Saturday 29 March 4:00pm – 5:00pm with Jiva Parthipan, Zanny Begg and Martin del Amo
Exhibition Dates: 29 March – 22 June 2025
FIND OUT MORE HERE: Jiva Parthipan: Pakiboy² A collaboration with Zanny Begg | Campbelltown Arts Centre