Disabled. Chronically ill. Nonbinary. Trans. Socially anxious… And, yet, I pass as able-bodied, cis, and confident. At least, until my mask slips.
For oppressed identities, there’s physical safety in hiding. Being a non-target. Invisible.
But, it’s also emotionally and psychologically damaging. Real social change requires one to be an anecdote rather than a statistic.
A self-portraiture series, “Masque Off” captures the honest moments between performances, where the pain, frustration, and anxiety override the curated image.