Changing Ideas Award
"Metamorphosis" addresses gender identity. It seeks to promote acceptance and inclusion of transgender people.
It is a portrait of the artist’s transgender son.
The artist’s son was born a girl and grew up with long hair, dolls and pink dresses, but, by age 13, something changed…. He was excluded from the boys’ foot ball games and he found, that the other girls were much better at being girls, than he was. The following years were hard. He suffered from gender dysphoria. It took him a long time to work out, what made him so sad.…. Finally at age 18 he knew, that he was transgender. With the help of good friends, family and a psychologist he went through a taxing mental and physical transition. At age 19, after undergoing top surgery, his mood and outlook improved dramatically. He finally felt at home in his own body. Today he is a very happy young man and proudly transgender.
He modelled for this bronze sculpture to celebrate his transition. The scar after the surgery is clearly visible and is his badge of honour.
His pose has his hands shadowing his face. Maybe the sun is glaring, maybe he is shielding himself from judgement. Maybe he just can’t believe, that his deepest desire has come through. But also, he is looking cautiously and hopefully towards a future, where everybody is respected regardless of their sexuality and gender identity.