‘darwin drag’ (2025) by yuki kihara
Artist Statement
Following new research by Ross Brooks, my project reveals how famed evolutionary biologist Charles Darwin (1809–1882), shaped some of his findings and suggested non-heteronormative species and same-sex attraction in animals was rare and unnatural, to conform with the conservative values of the Victorian period.
Darwin’s evolutionary theories and queer aesthetics in the animal ‘queendom’ inspired me to create Darwin Drag – a short film featuring myself prosthetically transformed as Charles Darwin, who confides in a renown Sāmoan drag queen, BUCKWEAT, that he has been unhappy keeping his secret in the closet about queer species for so long.
Darwin Drag introduces the fish species with ‘Fa’afafine traits’ found in the ocean surrounding the Sāmoan archipelago, including clownfish and parrotfish. Darwin Drag was presented alongside corresponding fish specimens, on loan from the Natural History Museum.












‘Darwin Drag’ (2025) by Yuki Kihara is presented at the following institutions:
The Whitworth, Manchester
3 October 2025 – 1 March 2026
Sainsbury Centre, Norwich
15 March – 3 August 2025
Darwin Drag by Yuki Kihara is supported by the Sainsbury Centre, Norwich; The Whitworth, Manchester; British Council and Creative New Zealand. Courtesy of Yuki Kihara and Milford Galleries, Aotearoa New Zealand.