Rebecca Swan
Mani (I am not a monster)

Artwork Detail
On page 56 of Assume Nothing, Mani is quoted stating;
'I reclaimed by birth name three year ago, which is Bruce Mitchell. So now I'm Mani Bruce Mitchell. It was the following summer, I was doing what I’ve done every day of my life, which was cutting the hairs on my face. I suddenly though what am I doing this for? I thought I’m doing this because I live in a world that says, women don’t have obvious facial hair, it’s something to be ashamed of and got rid of. Growing this facial hair has been wonderful act of reclaiming. I like it. It’s a very in your face thing. I certainly wouldn’t describe it as a beard, it wouldn’t win any competitions, but it’s one of the obvious aspects I have left of my ambiguity.’
There are three images of Mani illustrated in Assume Nothing.
- Title
- Mani (I am not a monster)
- Artist/creator
- Production date
- 1998
- Medium
- silver gelatin selenium toned
- Dimensions
- 864 x 738 x 60 mm
- Credit line
- Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, gift of the artist, 2019
- Accession no
- 2019/6/5
- Copyright
- Copying restrictions apply
- Department
- New Zealand Art
- Display status
- Not on display
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