“Held in Transition is an intimate reflection of my journey through recovery and medical transition. Two hands—one poised to hold a syringe, the other as if grasping a razor—symbolize my navigation through self-harm and healing. Cast from my right hand—the same hand I once used to self-harm and now use to self-administer testosterone—this piece emphasizes the duality of self-inflicted pain and self-administered care, where the body becomes both a site of struggle and rebirth.
These hands are more than symbols of memory—they are the physical connection between past trauma and present transformation. The same hand that once inflicted harm now facilitates healing, marking the body as a vessel for both destruction and creation. The sharpness of the syringe and razor, and the sterile scent of isopropyl alcohol evoke the sensory overlap between pain and recovery, linking these moments in a visceral, tactile way.
This work transcends personal narrative to embody a communal experience. A few months into my medical transition, I moved into QTBIPOC housing on my college campus, where I found solace in a Friday ritual of administering HRT alongside other trans individuals. In those quiet, wordless moments, injecting testosterone became more than an individual act—it evolved into a shared ritual of survival, solidarity, and self-affirmation.
Held in Transition invites viewers to reflect on the multifaceted nature of connection, showing that it often exists in the quiet moments of recognition and support that weave our stories together. My work becomes a testament to the resilience found in embracing both our struggles and the bonds that emerge from them, ultimately celebrating the journey toward wholeness and belonging within the queer experience.“