Description of Work

[un]seen - 2022 - Wooden frames, vinyl, digital graphics, video, paper booklets - Not For Sale

Artist's Statement

[un]seen serves to explore ways that art and design can uplift intersectional lgbtq voices and identities that are often left out of the mainstream media portrayal of the lgbtq community.

this project was initially born out of research into the commodification of lgbtq identities, and the realization that corporations tend to market to members of the lgbtq community who they believe have the most spending power: white, cisgender, able-bodied, upper class, gay men, and therefore most often feature lgbtq people who conform to this demographic in advertisements and media.

this homogenizes the community, making it appear as though it is primarily made of white, cisgender, able-bodied, upper class, gay men. as a result, any benefits that could come from the commercialization of lgbtq identities, such as greater exposure to the public, leading to a wider acceptance of lgbtq identities, are often primarily reaped by white, gay men. it’s important to emphasize the intersectional identities that make up the lgbtq community because privileging the identities of white, gay men creates progress only for people who fall into that very specific demographic. many lgbtq people who hold intersectional identities do not reap the protections that come with the wider societal acceptance of white, gay men. 2021 has become the deadliest year on record for transgender people, surpassing 2020’s record in early november with the murder of marquiisha lawrence, a trans woman of color.

there can be no progress for the lgbtq community if black, brown, disabled, poor, trans, and gender-nonconforming identities are not given equal voice and the specificity of the oppression that affects each person is considered.

additionally, allowing participants to submit their own photos ensures that they are seen in exactly the way they want to be, from their choice of clothes and setting to the angle the photograph was taken at. while [un]seen strives to maintain a recognizable and cohesive “brand,” much of the project is intentionally designed to not overpower the content of the installation: the voices and faces of the participants.

if you feel unseen and want to be part of the project, please visit @unseen_installation on instagram and fill out the survey at the link in our bio.

View a video of all participants here
View the resources document here
Want to become part of the project? Take the survey here

If you wish to purchase any of these pieces, please contact the gallery director, Jacqueline Nathan (jnathan@bgsu.edu.)