2024
We never hold hands in public
When traumas are there to stay
Despite over a decade of life in Berlin, my partner and I remain shaped by our origins in places where homosexuality is not merely stigmatized but actively suppressed. In such environments, public displays of affection were not just discouraged; they were taboo. This deep-seated conditioning lingers, even in a city known for its vibrant queer culture. To this day, we find ourselves refraining from holding hands in public, and our farewells at the train station remain achingly brief and kissless.
Acrylic on canvas, 100x100cm