While working on “The Word,” I found myself at a unique juncture in my life, where I finally reached a point where I could navigate ‘stealth’ within cishet society. This shift made me deeply consider the impact of perception as I was granted a new role in life.

This project, and the works of the artists, particularly emphasized how my external appearance could provoke such varied reactions, drawing me into unfamiliar conversations and worlds. I struggled with this for a while—grappling with how I was perceived and how I should act. It was a raw, visceral experience. As a trans man living stealthily, I found myself navigating a multitude of emotions: loss, joy, and confusion. It felt like relearning how to walk. This experience heightened my awareness of how profoundly perception affects us.

I created all my pieces at work, behind the bar, scribbling on wrinkled receipts. This felt like a metaphor for my life at the time, playing the role of a regular boy. Deeper feelings hidden in crumpled receipts.

It’s hard to capture the complexity of emotions I felt during this process. Yet, I found it essential to use simple means to convey my work. A pile of wrinkled receipts in my pocket during conversations, and discussions on language, with coworkers and security who crudely viewed those different from them, became an ironic reflection of this work.