Passing
This project is over my experience with binding in order to pass as a cis male. It demonstrates the ways I have attempted to achieve this goal and its success/ unsuccessfulness.
Passing is presented in a shadow box format with translucent images. The images are compressed and displayed with a light behind allowing the viewer to clearly see every layer and detail. The images are ordered chronologically from my first binding material in the back to my current binder in the front.
This project was created to highlight a different topic within the overall concept of transgender identity. Due to the importance of this topic I have chosen to use it for my senior show. I have decided to explore this topic with a wide range of materials, each chosen to best express that specific section of the topic. For example, this project is done on clear paper which allows the images to be translucent. This aspect is extremely important to this project because it allows the viewer to see all of the different sections of my growth, but most importantly, to compare them to each other. Something I have struggled with is passing due to the fact that my breasts are so large. This means that even when binding it is hard to hide them well enough for people to assume, I am male. I am constantly reminded of this, basically every time I meet someone new.
This project also highlights my frustration with different binding methods. For example, the fact nothing actually makes my chest flat, or that some are tight enough to help more than my normal binder—but are incredibly dangerous. I struggle with binding in a way that helps keep my dysphoria at bay, but also is healthy for me. Especially since if you bind in a way that is too harmful for your body or bind too often you can destroy the breast tissue resulting in being denied top surgery.
Overall, this project will be a great addition to my other piece for my show, and it also allowed me to think through my daily life decisions. It helped me realize where I came from, and how others see me. This both helped a hurt—helped for the times I think my chest is bigger than it is and hurt for the times I feel it is smaller than it is. In the end it was a good experience for me as an individual and an artist.
Passing is presented in a shadow box format with translucent images. The images are compressed and displayed with a light behind allowing the viewer to clearly see every layer and detail. The images are ordered chronologically from my first binding material in the back to my current binder in the front.
This project was created to highlight a different topic within the overall concept of transgender identity. Due to the importance of this topic I have chosen to use it for my senior show. I have decided to explore this topic with a wide range of materials, each chosen to best express that specific section of the topic. For example, this project is done on clear paper which allows the images to be translucent. This aspect is extremely important to this project because it allows the viewer to see all of the different sections of my growth, but most importantly, to compare them to each other. Something I have struggled with is passing due to the fact that my breasts are so large. This means that even when binding it is hard to hide them well enough for people to assume, I am male. I am constantly reminded of this, basically every time I meet someone new.
This project also highlights my frustration with different binding methods. For example, the fact nothing actually makes my chest flat, or that some are tight enough to help more than my normal binder—but are incredibly dangerous. I struggle with binding in a way that helps keep my dysphoria at bay, but also is healthy for me. Especially since if you bind in a way that is too harmful for your body or bind too often you can destroy the breast tissue resulting in being denied top surgery.
Overall, this project will be a great addition to my other piece for my show, and it also allowed me to think through my daily life decisions. It helped me realize where I came from, and how others see me. This both helped a hurt—helped for the times I think my chest is bigger than it is and hurt for the times I feel it is smaller than it is. In the end it was a good experience for me as an individual and an artist.