Layers of Life
Layers of Life is my debut illuminated portrait exploring queer identity, survival, and presence across time. Printed on three suspended layers of acetate, the work invites viewers to look through lived experience, from the ghosted fragments of a silenced childhood, through the sharper truths of growth and resistance, to a present-day assertion of unapologetic, embodied self-hood. Each layer reflects a distinct stage:
The past: blurred, black and white, blurred, fractured, formative.
The middle: crisp monochrome, awakening, belonging, defiance, becoming.
The present: full colour, alive, resilient, seen.
As viewers move around the piece, light and shifting perspective reveal how each moment of life informs the next. This is a work about memory, activism, and queer endurance a presence that refuses to be erased.
My Goal
Was to give viewers something to think about in term of past and present, the rear layer has elements of newspaper cuttings from the 80's and 90's showing the effects of section 28. We are going through similar now, and it send tremors of trauma down my spine how my trans and non-binary siblings are being treated. which is why I included the trans flag at the bottom of the front - 'present layer to show my solidarity and allyship.
The Process
Layers of Life was created through a deeply personal, physically demanding process shaped by chronic fatigue and limited resources. Built entirely by hand over several months, the illuminated frame houses three suspended acetate transparencies each layer printed, painted, and assembled with precision to preserve depth and meaning. Every stage, from image restoration to constructing the custom housing, required patient, paced effort, balancing creative vision with physical limits. The work became a metaphor for its message: enduring, adapting, and creating despite challenge. What began as an idea evolved into a powerful, dimensional piece layered not only with imagery, but with resilience and intent. Albeit with a few brain fog related mistakes, which ultimately feed into the narrative.
In progress
A few more images from the build
Parts
A selection of the parts included that have meaning in their own contexts for me personally. Open the first image to scroll through them all.
Process
Quite a few learning curves took place during this project. Learning how to isolate parts of an image in Photoshop and how to collage them onto separate layers while adjusting them to work was fun.
Experimenting with home printed transparencies to get the layers right was essential. Learning what types of acetates are available and how they would work was also a learning curve.
Trying to fight through brain fog and confusion to make each layer understandable to the public and not just my unique mind was not something I think I did well in the end. I was just happy to get the piece completed and hung at the exhibition. On reflection I needed to spend more time on this part of the work. It was a little rushed and perhaps not as well considered as I hoped it would be.
The box build was great fun, and perhaps something I should have outsourced as the measurements did not come out as expected, but then this kind of things happens all the time with ADHD and CFS fighting against one another for who can fuck things up the best, so I accept and learn and move forward.
The feedback has been positive about my first ever exhibition piece. I probably bit off way more than I could chew, but that's me. And it's been a fantastic learning curve.
Let me know what you thought
I'm very new to making art, and I would love to know what you thought of my debut piece, thanks for taking the time, Rob.