Kenneth Tam

Kenneth Tam’s work investigates themes of masculinity, tenderness and vulnerability. He reimagines private and public spaces, and how bodies can exist within them, liberated from societal expectations and gender conformities. Tam’s practice is intersectional, tapping into discussions of race and labour economics. His work discusses the ways in which Asian men are compared to White Western stereotypes of masculinity and virility. In his film ‘Silent Spikes’ (2021), Tam uses the trope of the cowboy to discuss Asian American identity; “By having Asian men step into this role, I pose the question of who has access to embody these characters and the larger ideas they represent”. He questions how the mythologised concept of the cowboy has historically shaped American masculinity and racial identities and hierarchies, and how it continues to do so. Written by Goldsmiths CCA