Life is just a lavender to you

The color lavender, once used to negatively label LGBTQIA+ people, has been reclaimed as a symbol of resistance. This project recounts the experiences of discrimination I endured at FIT in relation to my queer identity. I explore visceral memory by contextualizing the hatred my community faces, using lavender as a representation of unity. Sadly, the struggle is far from over. What makes experiences collective?

The components of this project include a stop motion video, publication, and 3D model.

A stop motion animation was developed using handcrafted paper to emit a relatable and comforting feeling. The video itself showcases my personal experiences while simultaneously posing questions relating to heteronormative culture and the collective queer struggle.

A french link stitch book was bound by hand composed of three parts: A personal essay, a compilation of interviews, and a scene-by-scene explanation of the stop motion animation. The personal essay explores the impact of heteronormativity and visceral memory on queer identity through time. The enclosed interviews further the point of collectiveness in the queer struggle.

A button activated 3D model was developed to showcase the way LGBTQIA+ experiences often go unnoticed. If the user does not activate the experience, the model will remain still, symbolic of the hidden lived realities of queer people. Upon activation of the button, the lavender sways back and forth as if the wind is blowing them. This represents how LGBTQIA+ people often have to go with the flow of the wind, commonly deciphering which situations are safe, and which are not. A lavender light illuminates the paper house, representing a safe space for LGBTQIA+ people.