Stories in blur. Symbols in bloom.
Bloom No. 1:
The Carnation
Queer defiance in plain sight
In late 19th century England, green carnations became a quiet emblem of queer identity, most famously worn by Oscar Wilde and his circle.
A single bloom, tucked into a buttonhole, was a gesture of subtle rebellion in a world that demanded silence.
This portrait reimagines that quiet defiance as something soft, surreal, and enduring.
Bloom No. 2:
The Violet
Love letters and lilac days
In early 20th century literature and life, violets symbolised sapphic love.
Passed in poems, tucked into notes, or gifted between women who could not speak their affection aloud. Their petals held what words could not.
This piece honours those secret exchanges and the tenderness behind them.
Bloom No. 3:
The Lavender
Blurred lines and quiet truths
Lavender has long been connected with queer identity, especially within bisexual history. Faded from visibility, misunderstood, but deeply rooted.
It’s a colour of in-between, of nuance, of holding space for more than one truth at once.
This portrait reflects that complexity in soft blur and bloom.
Bloom No. 4:
The Rose
Strength in soft bloom
The rose has long symbolised beauty, transformation, and resilience; qualities deeply connected to the trans experience.
In queer history, it’s become a quiet emblem of identity, growth, and self-expression. This piece honours the strength within softness.
A quiet reminder to give them their roses, not just in memory, but in celebration.