Gauguin Exhibitions Celebrate Hebephilia — A5 Sewing Sampler

This piece states what should be obvious but is rarely said: Gauguin exhibitions celebrate hebephilia.

Paul Gauguin is still widely displayed in major galleries. His paintings of Tahitian girls - often nude, often underage, often unnamed - are romanticised, reproduced, and sold on scarves, mugs, coasters, and tea towels. Their youth, their exploitation, and the violent context of colonialism they were painted within are almost never mentioned.

The truth is: these are not "muses".
These are **colonised children**, sexualised for art and then commodified for consumption.

Why This Piece Exists:
Gauguin was an adult man with syphilis who abused multiple underage girls during his time in Tahiti. That is not a controversial interpretation—it’s documented fact. And yet, art institutions still frame his work as visionary, spiritual, or exotic—without confronting what it actually cost.

This piece doesn’t politely ask questions.
It makes a statement.
Clearly. Uncomfortably. Rightfully.

What’s Included:
* A4 printed fabric sampler (calico or linen base)
* Embroidery needle

Optional Extras:
- Wooden Hoop – Useful for stitching and framing
- Thread Pack – Colours selected for highlighting emphasis
- Felt Backing Sheet – Helps stabilize your sampler while sewing

A Note on Language:
Hebephilia refers to the sexual attraction to early adolescent children.
Gauguin’s subjects were often younger than 14, sometimes as young as 13. These were not consenting models—they were colonised children with no power in the dynamic.