Transgender

I am feminine, I am masculine,

I am anything I want.

I can teach you, I can love you,

If you got it going on.

Dimensions:  13" H x 6" W x 13" D (33cm H x  15cm W x  33cm D) 

Materials: Clay, porcelain, decals, velvet, glaze and underglaze

Year: 2026

Price: Upon request

Giving back: 10% of my net proceeds from this piece will be donated to a nonprofit aligned with the social issue behind the work: Loveyourself   

The Truth Behind:

— This Piece —

Transgender is part of Invaluable, an ongoing series celebrating bodies that exist beyond conventional standards of beauty and reminding us that every body deserves dignity, visibility, and love.

Inspired by a close Filipina transgender friend and by Botticelli's The Birth of Venus, the sculpture reimagines the goddess of love not as a mythological figure, but as a proud transgender Filipina woman. Her long hair becomes a symbol of femininity, identity, and self-determination. Unlike Botticelli's Venus, she does not conceal herself. She stands openly and unapologetically, inviting us to reflect on why some bodies are celebrated while others are questioned.

The figure rises from a pedestal inspired by the architecture of Manila, a city where beauty and struggle coexist. Embedded within its surface are fragments of urban life: plastic, waste, and traces of infrastructure that speak to environmental and social neglect. Yet from this landscape she emerges radiant and dignified, crowned with the horns of the carabao, the national animal of the Philippines and a symbol of resilience, strength, and endurance.

Like the other works in this series, the sculpture is conceived as a contemporary reinterpretation of Chinese porcelain, one of the most treasured and admired artistic traditions in history. For centuries, porcelain has been preserved, displayed, and celebrated for its beauty, rarity, and perceived value. Here, the human body takes its place. Self-designed blue motifs, inspired by traditional porcelain decoration and Filipino culture, become tattoos across the figure's skin, transforming ornament into identity and presenting the body itself as something precious, unique, and worthy of admiration.

Her nudity is intentional, not vulnerability, but presence. A declaration of self-worth in a world that too often asks certain people to hide. By standing openly, the figure also challenges the misconception that transgender women must alter their bodies in order to be recognized as women. The work affirms that womanhood is not determined by anatomy, genitalia, or medical procedures, and that a person's identity does not begin or end in surgery.

Transgender is an ode to visibility, resilience, and belonging. It celebrates transgender womanhood, honors the strength of the Filipino people, and affirms a simple truth: every person deserves to be seen, respected, and loved.

— The Social Issue —

This piece brings together two realities: the ongoing discrimination faced by transgender people worldwide and the social challenges confronting millions of Filipinos today.

Transgender People and the Right to Live Authentically

Despite growing visibility in many parts of the world, transgender people continue to face disproportionate levels of violence, discrimination, and legal exclusion.

According to the Trans Murder Monitoring project of Transgender Europe (TGEU), at least 350 transgender and gender-diverse people were reported murdered worldwide between October 2023 and September 2024, making it one of the deadliest years since global monitoring began in 2008. More than 5,000 murders have been documented during that period, although researchers stress that the true number is likely much higher due to underreporting, misidentification, and the absence of official data collection in many countries.

The violence falls disproportionately on transgender women. According to TGEU, approximately 90% of recorded victims globally are trans women or transfeminine people, while the majority of those whose race was known were Black or Brown. Latin America continues to record the highest number of killings, with Brazil leading global statistics for nearly two decades.

The United Nations has repeatedly warned that transgender people face barriers to healthcare, education, employment, housing, legal recognition, and personal safety in many regions of the world. While some countries have expanded legal protections in recent years, others have moved in the opposite direction, introducing restrictions affecting gender recognition, healthcare access, participation in public life, and protections against discrimination. The UN has identified the rise of anti-LGBTQI+ rhetoric, hate speech, and scapegoating as a growing global concern.

In the United States, recent years have seen an unprecedented wave of legislative proposals targeting LGBTQ+ rights, with transgender people at the center of many political debates. Similar discussions and restrictions have emerged in several countries across Europe, Africa, Latin America, and Asia, reflecting a broader international backlash against gender diversity. At the same time, human rights organizations, medical associations, and United Nations agencies continue to affirm that gender identity is a fundamental aspect of human dignity and that transgender people are entitled to the same rights, protections, and freedoms as everyone else.

The right to live openly, safely, and authentically is not a privilege. It is a human right.

The Philippines: Resilience Amid Challenge

The Philippines is a country of extraordinary cultural richness, resilience, and community strength. It is also a nation confronting significant social and environmental challenges.

According to the World Risk Index 2025, the Philippines ranks among the most disaster-exposed countries in the world, regularly facing typhoons, flooding, earthquakes, and other climate-related hazards. The World Bank estimates that climate shocks continue to push vulnerable households deeper into poverty and increase economic insecurity.

Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index continues to identify corruption as a major challenge affecting public trust and equitable development. At the same time, organizations including UNICEF, UNAIDS, and UNDP have documented ongoing concerns related to poverty, health inequalities, adolescent pregnancy, and the growing HIV epidemic among young people.

Yet statistics alone do not define a nation.

What remains with me from my years living and working in the Philippines is not crisis, but resilience: communities supporting one another, people finding joy amid hardship, and an enduring capacity for hope.

This piece stands in recognition of that strength. It celebrates visibility, dignity, and the belief that every person deserves the freedom to live authentically and without fear.

References, Further Reading & Sources:

Know the Facts - Transgender People (United Nations Free & Equal)

Trans Murder Monitoring (TGEU)

Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR))

WorldRiskReport 2025 (Bündnis Entwicklung Hilft)

Philippines Overview by World Bank