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When I created Seek and Hide, my main aim was to challenge long held assumptions and show that there is no single way to look, act or be, no matter who you love or how you identify. I wanted to explore the idea that being queer does not mean you must fit a stereotype, or that masculinity and LGBTQ+ identity cannot exist together naturally and proudly.
At the centre stands a cowboy, a figure instantly linked with traditional ideas of strength, ruggedness and classic masculinity. He is confident, strong and self assured, holding his lasso with ease, dressed in the familiar hat and denim that represent independence and freedom. Yet around him and within him, the scene bursts with rich, swirling rainbow colours, the universal symbol of pride, diversity and the whole spectrum of LGBTQ+ experience.
This blend is intentional and meaningful. It shows that identity is not something you wear on the surface or limit to one look, it is part of your whole self. Too often people still think that being gay, bi, trans or queer means you must be soft, delicate or traditionally feminine, but that is simply not true. Masculinity comes in many forms, just as queerness does, and the two can coexist perfectly, authentically and without contradiction.
The title Seek and Hide reflects the dual experience many people know well. For a long time, many have hidden parts of themselves to fit what others expected, or to stay safe, while always seeking the chance to be fully seen and accepted. This piece says clearly that you do not have to choose, you do not have to hide your identity to be seen as strong, nor hide your strength to be seen as queer. You can be both, you can be everything you are, proudly and without compromise.
Through this bold, colourful work, I want to celebrate the full range of what it means to be human, to show that labels are just small parts of who we are, and that true authenticity means embracing every side of yourself. This is art for anyone who has ever felt they did not fit a box, anyone who knows that strength and pride come in every shade, shape and style.
When I created Seek and Hide, my main aim was to challenge long held assumptions and show that there is no single way to look, act or be, no matter who you love or how you identify. I wanted to explore the idea that being queer does not mean you must fit a stereotype, or that masculinity and LGBTQ+ identity cannot exist together naturally and proudly.
At the centre stands a cowboy, a figure instantly linked with traditional ideas of strength, ruggedness and classic masculinity. He is confident, strong and self assured, holding his lasso with ease, dressed in the familiar hat and denim that represent independence and freedom. Yet around him and within him, the scene bursts with rich, swirling rainbow colours, the universal symbol of pride, diversity and the whole spectrum of LGBTQ+ experience.
This blend is intentional and meaningful. It shows that identity is not something you wear on the surface or limit to one look, it is part of your whole self. Too often people still think that being gay, bi, trans or queer means you must be soft, delicate or traditionally feminine, but that is simply not true. Masculinity comes in many forms, just as queerness does, and the two can coexist perfectly, authentically and without contradiction.
The title Seek and Hide reflects the dual experience many people know well. For a long time, many have hidden parts of themselves to fit what others expected, or to stay safe, while always seeking the chance to be fully seen and accepted. This piece says clearly that you do not have to choose, you do not have to hide your identity to be seen as strong, nor hide your strength to be seen as queer. You can be both, you can be everything you are, proudly and without compromise.
Through this bold, colourful work, I want to celebrate the full range of what it means to be human, to show that labels are just small parts of who we are, and that true authenticity means embracing every side of yourself. This is art for anyone who has ever felt they did not fit a box, anyone who knows that strength and pride come in every shade, shape and style.