Someone asked me why I give my creatures top scars and it’s to remind people of the trans existence. Should my work ever become widely popular, I want it known a trans man created the art. If my art is still loved when I’m gone, I want those scars to remind people of my identity and existence. To give these creatures my scars is a reminder of trans existence baked into the work itself. It cannot be removed. My creatures are protectors, warriors, and carry with them a greater existence than a simple two-part binary. With their scars, I call out to all the trans people who live in this generation with me. I pay homage to all those who paved the road before us. I plant a message to those who will come after us that we were here.
So, yes, I give my creatures top scars. Not as an aesthetic or fad, but as a permanent mark of who I am. And, as a signal to all my peers that we are not alone and we will always exist.
