This is the first piece in a planned lifelong series of creating a self-portrait every year to represent my current emotional state and appearance. These pieces are planned to act as an ever-evolving diary and also to fight against the lack of trans experiences being presented in fine art.
This work in particular is a reflection of the societal pressure on trans women to present as feminine in order to be safe. I depicted myself as somber and sullen, consumed by a chaotic eruption of pink paint trailing up my neck as a representation of a choking feeling. I over-emphasized the tones of pink in my face and contrasted myself against an ocean of caked blue paint to showcase the trans-female experience. I used thick layers of paint and the wood paneling gaps to create a sense of disconnection and uncertainty.
