A Head Full of Wishes by Cas A. '23
Trans-
Word forming element meaning “across, beyond, through, on the other side of.” From Latin meaning “across, over, beyond.” Perhaps originally the present participle of the verb traer meaning “to cross,” or from a variant of the root tere meaning “cross over, pass through, overcome.”
Since I began transitioning from female to male five years ago, I have been silent on the subject of my changing body. I have not written, drawn, painted, or printed a comment or statement about myself or how society views my body. I recently completed my transition. It feels like the right time to break my silence.
During Spring 2023, I completed an art thesis project intending to give a perspective on transitioning and trans bodies. When I first began transitioning, I discovered much of the information available online is either medical, lacks any sort of visual aid, or actively discourages people from transitioning. I wanted to create a series of prints describing how my body has changed and the emotions attached to it. I also wanted to dispel the idea that trans bodies are in some way unnatural. To achieve this I combined images of my body with a variety of elements from nature including plants, octopi, and the sky. Plants are constantly growing and blooming. Octopi are malleable and can change their bodies to suit their situation. The sky represents my sense of relief and well-being.
This piece is one part of a project that represents five years of my life. Five years of hormones. Five years of becoming. Five years of remaking my body and self.
