March 2026
I was deeply honoured to premiere my original spoken-word poem, The Art of Giving: Give to Gain, at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre as part of The Art of Giving, presented by the Australian Alumni Association (Thailand) in celebration of International Women’s Day 2026.
Each year, I write and record a performance poem inspired by the International Women’s Day campaign theme. This year, it was especially meaningful to bring the work into a live setting, sharing it with an audience before it was later featured on the International Women’s Day website as part of the IWD Creatives campaign.
The Art of Giving
In developing the event theme, The Art of Giving, we wanted to explore the idea that both art and generosity are intentional practices. Neither happens by chance. Both require commitment, care, discipline and purpose, and over time, what we choose to practise shapes the impact we create.
Inspired by the global #GiveToGain theme, the poem asks a simple yet powerful question:
If equality, equity and diversity are what we hope to gain, what are we willing to give?
Through the extended metaphors of art and mathematics, the performance explores how giving knowledge, opportunity, visibility, protection and encouragement can help create pathways towards gender equality and more inclusive communities.
Creative Expression as Advocacy
Spoken word has the unique ability to transform ideas into action by connecting audiences emotionally as well as intellectually. Through storytelling and performance, The Art of Giving: Give to Gain encourages reflection on the role each of us can play in creating meaningful and lasting change.
My sincere thanks to Laksasubha Kridakon and the Australian Alumni Association (Thailand) for creating a platform where creative expression could contribute to conversations around women’s empowerment, equity and advocacy. It was a privilege to be part of an event that celebrated the power of art to inspire dialogue, generosity and collective action.
