All the Right Parts (2024 - Current)
In this work I take on the role of archeologist: excavating, analyzing and diagraming my queer history with gender. The systematic infrastructure around the construct of gender norms is complex and pervasive. I separate and study this system’s numerous off-shoots, laying them out for observation and analysis. This excavation is guided by a series of research questions: What does this system do? How does it function? Why do I find it so counter intuitive? How has it been engineered? How is it natural? Why does it make me so uncomfortable? Why does non-conformity within this mechanism cause so much fear and anger in the world today? When I tell you I’m nonbinary, am I, or am I not, a liar?
In each of these diagrams I present excavated artifacts to the viewer in the form of symbols. Symbolism is and continues to be important to the queer community. Often double coded, it allowed and continues to allow members of the queer community to communicate to the “in'' crowd whilst eluding would be persecutors. This is apparent throughout queer history. LGBTQ+ persons have consistently used symbology within socially “acceptable” customs, costumes and art works to talk about and signal their inner feelings or socially “unacceptable” queerness. I seek to recognize and continue this visual queer history.