‘My Blood Went Cold’: Local Painter Responds To Transphobic University Bathroom Vandalism With Powerful Artwork
Local painter and poet Nik Keter (@matri.mater.omm) has responded to the recently vandalised gender-neutral bathroom at the University of Malta with a powerful and striking artwork, coupled with a poem.
Speaking with Lovin Malta, the 20-year-old artist expressed how unsettled they felt after hearing about the transphobic messages which had tarnished the university’s gender-neutral bathroom.
“When I first saw the post about the transphobic messages, I was in my last lecture of the day… my stomach turned and my blood went cold,” Nik told Lovin Malta.
“I didn’t feel settled throughout my whole trip back home, as that wonderful bubble of safety I had so carefully constructed around myself burst around me.”
“The thought came to mind that if I was feeling like that, so many other trans and nonbinary students, as well as friends, partners, allies, and loved ones were probably feeling close to the same way.”
Nik Keter's artwork
After the messages surfaced, The Third Eye immediately covered the offensive messages with post-it notes, condemning the act and assuring that such messages will not be tolerated. But Nik felt that they wanted to do something.
“As an artist and openly trans person, I had the duty to put something meaningful out, in order to extend a hand of solidarity and support with the other trans students on campus, as well as other queer people and their close ones – to show them that they have friends within the faceless crowd, as well as a direct, if peaceful, message to those who seek to harass and bully anonymously,” Nik expressed.
“Many fear being outed, harassed, and targeted even today, and this graffiti was pointedly trying to shame and belittle people who are still developing and experiencing their identity in a completely harmless way.”
“It took me many years to accept myself, and I still struggle with shame even today,” they said.
Nik continued to express that they “cannot stand to think that some person still in this grueling process might be struck down within the only gender-neutral bathroom – a place of privacy – on university grounds, when university may be the only place where queer youth get to express themselves”.
Nik Keter's poem
“With the art and poetry printed and stuck up across campus I hope to encourage others to put up encouraging messages, art, and poetry, as well as have others share the image on their socials, to raise awareness and as a show of good faith, allyship, and hope.”
“In the face of shame, the only answer is joy and love. Peace is Resistance.”
Nik’s artwork and poem have now been hung around various places around the university, in hopes of sending out a positive message.
Have you spotted any of these artworks around the university?
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