Paradise: Point of Transmission

(Paperback)

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A brilliant debut that examines a 'haunted' queer and HIV-positive identity, across spaces and citizenships both physical and imagined. Paradise (point of transmission) is a poetry collection placed within a sequence of physical and psychic transitional spaces- from seronegative to seropositive; from 'adopted' Singaporean to the poet finding his place again as an adult in the Perth of his childhood; and from being secretive about his HIV-status (in which the art he produced was rooted in the trauma of HIV transmission without naming it), towards living a more public life, in which living openly with HIV is characterised by the queer longing toward both resilience and transformation.

Reviews

"This remarkable first book marks Sutherlands appearance on the poetic horizon with a fire and energy that will linger long after the first reading." -- Tracy Ryan
"Sutherland embraces rather than smooths over the messiness of his HIV diagnosis, while also finding rare moments of beauty in liminality. This poetry is visceral and erotic, moving seamlessly between free verse and prose poetry to defy the limitations of form." -- Writing WA
"Andrew Sutherlands poems are brilliant and confronting." -- Rashida Murphy
"This book has all the angst and power of a first collection and all the polish and sophistication of a mature writer." -- Ng Yi-Sheng
"Replete with unvarnished and sincere sentimentalities, I was riveted by the graceful and tender writing style and imaginativeness throughout." -- @bianca_mal_

Author Bio

Andrew Sutherland is a Queer poz (PLHIV) writer and performance-maker creating work between Boorloo, Western Australia and Singapore. His work draws upon intercultural and Queer critical theories, and the vital instabilities of identity, pop culture and the autobiographical self. He was awarded Overland's Fair Australia Poetry Prize 2017 and placed third in FAWWA's Tom Collins Prize 2021. He is grateful to reside on Whadjuk Noongar boodja.