Meg Torwl

The podcast recording titled "Meg Torwl profile," made in Auckland, New Zealand, on March 3, 2013, covers an in-depth interview with Meg Torwl, a multidisciplinary artist, by Gareth Watkins. In the interview, Meg discusses their formative years in New Zealand, constantly relocating due to their parents' teaching jobs, and how this shaped their ability to connect with people from different walks of life—useful in their documentary filmmaking career. They also delve into their artistic beginnings, recounting early inclinations toward poetry and drawing, and the influences of certain teachers on their creative journey.

Meg goes on to describe the journals from their teenage years, filled with themes common among adolescents—such as angst, relationships, and social issues—indicating that those writings resided in the Lesbian and Gay Archives of New Zealand. They offer insights into their teenage personality, discussing their rebellious and questioning nature, which contrasted with the more conformist ethos common amongst their peers. Humorously, Meg shares anecdotes about their standout fashion choices influenced by Annie Lennox and Cindy Lauper, and how these drew unexpected attention.

The interview reveals Meg's reflections on their evolving creative identity, emphasizing the value in openly discussing thoughts and attitudes toward various social categories. They touch on the theme of being an artist within a society that does not necessarily recognize art as a viable career.

Discussing their work, Meg highlights a project dealing with ageism within the lesbian and women’s community that created a dialogue through various age groups. On a personal note, they talk about their life with a disability and how it impacts their art, not as a definition but as a lens through which they view the world.

Meg speaks candidly about the complexities of navigating the arts world as someone whose work crosses multiple communities and disciplines. They confront the challenges in securing funding and recognition in a system that often prefers artists to fit neatly within singular categories. Through such experiences, they stress the importance of diversifying representation within decision-making bodies in the arts sector.

Drawing towards the end of their life, Meg contemplates the playfulness and documentary nature inherent in their work, understanding that much of what they created may only gain significance or recognition with the passage of time.

Meg Torwl passed away on June 21, 2013, just a few months following the recording of this interview. The content mentioned dates back to the 1980s, offering a retrospective glance at societal attitudes and the personal journey of an artist navigating identity, creativity, and community interaction.

This summary is created using Generative AI. Although it is based on the recording's transcription, it may contain errors or omissions. Click here to learn more about how this summary was created.

Meg Torwl

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