Coexistence

by Elio Walsh

“This artwork is titled “Coexistence”, the latest one of my four current collages related to being transgender/queer. The background is marbled paint, and the bodies (from left to right) were made with watercolor, oil pastel, and acrylic paint. I also used gold foil to highlight the “trans” aspects of each portrait (top surgery scars, binding and testosterone shot, and chest taping). The colors of the bodies align with the trans flag (pink, blue, white ((I used gray tones for the white portrait, as my reference was a POC)) ). My biggest inspiration for my art is my own gender and queerness, and the personal experiences that come with it. In “Coexistence”, the surface level meaning is that that being trans/queer can coexist with Christianity. It's not one or the other. Growing up Catholic turned me away from religion, especially after the discovery that I am trans. I never understood why being gay/trans is a sin, while in the first book of the Bible, it's stated that "God created all mankind in his own image..." (Genesis 1:27). Whenever people use religion as a crutch against their transphobia, I'm reminded that God views one who judges equal to the one they're judging (Matthew 7:1). The biggest/main aspect of Christianity is to love each other as you would want them to love you. My sin is love. Yours is hate. I also used different body types to showcase that you don't have to fit in the stereotypical "skinny and white" box that a lot of the internet deems as "conventionally attractive" in trans men. This has always bothered me, especially as a bigger person. Looking up trans influencers, clothing styles, or even music/art, it's almost always a smaller white person. I sought out the plus sized influencers that I see myself in. I looked up trans POC influencers and artists that I can admire and support while learning their own struggles that come both in and out of the LGBTQ community. I encourage you to do the same. Almost every element in this piece is symbolic to the overall theme, such as the olive branch in the middle portrait and the actual crucifix necklace on the third portrait. A hidden example is that many of the pieces are held down to the backboard by little nails, such as how Christ was nailed to the cross. The two bible verses at the bottom were found in my prior research to working, as I remembered from my youth that there were many examples of acceptance in the bible. The other line on the bottom right of the piece is from the song Fable by Gigi Perez. The song explores grief, religious trauma, and her queer identity. It highlights how the singer is worried she won’t get to see her sister (who died in 2020) again because of her queerness. Overall, I really resonated with the line “Love was the law, religion was taught”, and thought it was super important to add to the piece.”