Hark, do you feel it? Metamorphosis III invites you to step into a realm where gender transcends boundaries. This is not just an art installation. This is a sanctuary reclaimed.
Metamorphosis III resides within the Gaffa Gallery. The gallery itself stands on Gadigal Land. We acknowledge and pay respects to Elders past and present. The gallery is housed in the old Clarence Street Police Station. Once a place of incarceration, it now serves as a haven. Specifically, it now welcomes the trans community.
Sian Kelly is the artist behind Metamorphosis III. Kelly is an emerging artist working across installation, sculpture, performance and drawing. Their work defies categorization. It re-approaches experiences of gender and the body. Kelly explores non-fixed states of being.
The Metamorphosis series imagines a utopian sanctuary. In this space expanded gender identities are explored. The exploration happens without disruption. It’s a dream of protection. It nurtures self-discovery. Each installation manifests as an intricate cobweb. The cobweb gradually spins in response to its site.
Insects inspire the Metamorphosis series. Kelly draws inspiration from their sanctuary-building practices. Also they draw inspiration from their metamorphic processes. The series pays homage to silk thread. Silk thread embodies a protective function. It also represents a transitional history.
These insect processes become ritual acts. They create tangible networks. These networks ensure queer safety. They honor the continuous journey of self-exploration. Metamorphosis III reclaims the space. The installation hovers on the history of the police station. It offers the space back to the trans community.
The Metamorphosis series celebrates the long process. It celebrates work put in. The series views gender exploration as radical. It understands it as an eternal labor of self love.
Metamorphosis I took place in London in September 2023. It lasted 98 hours. Metamorphosis II occurred in Leipzig in December 2023. It lasted 8 hours. Metamorphosis III in Sydney in February 2025 lasted 95 hours.
Kelly’s international career launched with Metamorphosis I. Following this, they participated in the Pilotenkueche International Residency Programme in Leipzig. Kelly exhibited in both the programme’s open studio and final group exhibitions. They also performed Metamorphosis II.
So, as you stand before Metamorphosis III remember its purpose. It is more than art. It’s a reclamation, a sanctuary and a celebration of self.