This body of work is a meditation on the lived experience of being a person of trans experience. As Jacques Lacan posits, our identity is shaped by what he termed "the big Other." The names our parents call us, the behavioral norms set by schools, and the identities bestowed upon us by workplaces—all constitute this external force defining who we are.
For those of trans experience, the narrative imposed by the world often clashes with our internal identities, resulting in a spectrum of disorienting feelings about self and existence. This discord creates a unique and profound journey toward self-discovery and self-acceptance.
During my initial early explorations of gender identity in this series, I used photography as a tool to see myself from the outside in. This process was an attempt to uncover what had been obscured. After a decade-long hiatus from taking photographs, I started documenting my neighborhood, and I recognized that the questions I had previously posed were still present and resonating in my work. This realization revealed a continuity in my dialogue with myself, one that has been instrumental in my journey of self-discovery.
Through this body of work, I invite viewers to engage with the complexities of identity, the tension between external expectations and internal truths, and the ongoing process of becoming who we truly are.
