Bones of Graphene, Skin of Kevlar
Julius Thissen
The first chapter of this research, titled "Old Money Never Dies" (2023), focuses specifically on the issues surrounding the queer influencer and their power dynamics within capitalist systems.
Thissen is currently working on the second chapter, titled "Bones of Graphene, Skin of Kevlar" (2024-ongoing). The project began with archival and visual research in New York in early 2024, centering on historical transgender resilience, STAR, and protests in NYC during the 1960s and 1970s. The primary focus is to visualize the impact of rising global far-right politics and sentiments, contrasted with the enduring resilience and fighting spirit of trans individuals across generations.
“With this work, my goal is to create strong contemporary transgender figures and symbolic still lifes that channel the ancestral power of our queer elders to push back against the dangers of our time. I want to capture and translate the tensions and threats we are facing. In a time marked by fear-mongering, media manipulation, attacks and bans on gender-affirming healthcare, and an increasing detachment from factual reality, it is vital to develop strategies for staying safe and resilient, without losing the ability to remain soft and true to who we are.”
