Artist Statement
Our current generation is working in varying ways to unlearn how capitalism, oppression, stigmatization of vulnerability and lack of transformative accountability has impacted us having healthy and loving relationships with each other and with our own selves. A huge portion of this learning healthy boundaries, to be seen where we are at, to know we do not have to hold someone’s hand through humanizing us and our identity groups for them, and to hold ourselves accountable as well.
As a MAD non-binary disabled femme, and former sex worker, and survivor of NA, much of my work is in hope to add to the growth in possibility of how we view our own selves and each other.. “I can try/roses” is about learning to make loving boundaries with the parts of harm that still live inside of me, and many other NA survivors and femmes, that position our placement in love and friendship of only having worth when in service to others, and of attachment addiction. “can I write mascara off on my taxes?” is a constant ode to my femme non-binary existence of reminding myself I am not too much to ask for my needs, and a dig at compensation owed for the transactional nature of interactions from men, capitalism, civilians and non-disabled folks have created in my own life and others. “the crows feel better” was a mental survival to validate my experience in starting in the fall of this pandemic (and the unfortunately too common experience us chronically ill folks have) of friends and partners ghosting when things become too intense, seeing me as mirror for what they didn’t want to address in terms of ableism, mortality and community care. In absence of others, it was a protection of my energy by making space for my pain.
About the Artist
tazia cira is a disabled enby artist and writer otherwise known as a ball of fire, living currently on Potawatomi, Odawa and Ojibwe Land (Chicago). In addition to being incredibly passionate about listening to one song upwards of 20 times in the span of two days and taking care of their 25 plants, they care deeply about sustainability, community care, harm reduction, accessible mental health care and radical vulnerability. Their illustrations and designs have helped redirect funds to a number organizations focusing on harm reduction, sex workers and BIPOC and trans folks and directly to folks as well. You can find these designs via their brand XYST UGLI (relaunching on April 10th on redbubble) and through their dear friends at Transfigure Print Co via the “Protect Trans Youth”, ‘Sex Work is Work” and “Redefining Love and Family” designs. They have also been gratefully documented in this cyberspace via Nylon Magazine, Teen Vogue and Anthony Padilla’s Video “I spent a day with people w/ OCD. They currently make visuals for Symbiotic Bitch Collective @symbioco, and pour a whole lot of art and chaos into their work they post on their instagram @taziacira.
© Tazia Cira