These five 20cm paintings were created for a series displayed for a month as a part of the Cultures of Remembrance exhibit organized by the Educat collective. Each of the paintings are connected to an accompanying letter written to Hella Knabe, the designer and hairdresser who helped make the world a better place for many many queer and transgender people. The letters are written by four trans women, Maja, Emi, Erna, and Georgette. These letters can be found here: https://cultures-of-remembrance.com/en/exhibition/letters-to-berlin/
Since it has come to a close and Ive been reflecting on other times my art has been on display…. and the fond memory of a blue ribbon for my drawing of a flying brain with a small gay flag inside that won some regional prize when I was in 6th grade and just coming to terms with my queerness came into my vision. I remember that because I won it was displayed in the library for a few weeks. Perhaps I should count this as my first-ever exhibition….
But for the very first time ever my paintings were in a museum! For a theme I care deeply about. I did a lot of research for these paintings, to provide details of the times they were set in as well as from the letters we have from the trans people who wrote to Hella Knabe. Hella was an amazing and talented person who helped so many people look and feel like their truest selves through her hair-cutting and fashion design skills. I loved learning about her, and particularly fell into a trance staring at this photo. She looks so regal, so proud, and so stylish! I loved painting her clients and imagining their interactions.
I used my community as models, and drew my inspiration for composition and themes from artists such as Charlotte Salomon, Eva Frankfurther, Jeanne Mammen, Max Ernst and Otto Dix.
Maja in the hair shop
A young woman gets her hair done in her new dress. She stares at her reflection with a knowing and gleeful euphoric smirk, her lips are slightly red and her beautiful dark green coat hangs on the coat rack at the front of the shop. You can see Hella Knabe in her signature pearls cutting Maja’s hair, and above them are outer space doodles.
Erna on the Couch
Erna sits on the green velvet couch in the living room with her wife. She is wearing a silk beautiful blue dress, and upon her knee is an embroidery hoop. She is making an embroidered handkerchief for her wife with lavender flowers. We see a framed photo of her wearing skirts and her hair in braids being held by an older sister hanging on the wall. Next to Erna, her wife sits in orange reading the latest fashion magazine that Erna orders to the house every season to see the latest designs. They talk to each other about what outfits they will buy or commission next as the window behind them shows a sunset slowly blossoming in colors of blue, white, and pink.
Emi and Wally on the Bus
Emi and Wally sit next to each other on the bus, Emi looks out the window, Wally looks at her.He wears a peacock feather in his hat and a green carnation in his breast pocket. The colors in the painting are more and more vibrant the closer to their faces and hearts, the rest of the bus is dull, blue, and faded. Almost like their hearts are emitting a warm glow that illuminates the true colors of objects. Wally reads Sappho and Socretes, and Emi Paints the scenery. The bus windows show sand fields and pines, typical on the route they are taking.
Georgette in the Garden Bar
Georgette sits with her wife in a garden city courtyard bar during the summer. Ivy creeps up the walls of the hinterhof, and beautiful passion flowers are blooming, even though they do not usually grow in Germany. Georgette wears a dark purple dress with matching amethyst earrings and a necklace. Her wife wears a green dress that cuts off right below her knee. They match the passion flowers blooming above. In the lower left is the corner of a treasure chest overflowing with jewels, underwear, and dresses.
Surreal Sunset
We see Emi painting a landscape on a hill in a beautiful dress. She paints the sunrise as it occurs around her, representing the new chapter of her life she has embarked upon with the help of Hella’s art. Colors of orange, purple, and pink play off her skin and hair and light yellow dress. The bottom of the dress is stained with some mud and sticks, but she doesn’t seem to mind. Fairies ascend a rainbow staircase at the top of the canvas
Mycelium Memory 