As part of Science Gallery Atlanta’s JUSTICE exhibition, (H)OUR GLASS. was created. Inspired by my prior research on physician support of patient autonomy, (H)OUR GLASS. communicates the clinical hurdles surrounding the ungainly and joyous experience of medical transition for transmasculine folks living in the southern United States. Utilizing an interactive doctor’s appointment, a room full of mirror shards turbulent in motifs, and over 30 minutes of oral stories from southern transmasculine individuals, (H)OUR GLASS. is a multimedia, interactive project created by and for the trans community.
It starts with a doctor’s appointment.
In collaboration with local physicians specializing in gender-affirming hormone therapy, a telehealth-style doctor’s appointment was created as the first interaction point of (H)OUR GLASS. Wracked with woes of limited time, WiFi troubles, and increasing quiz-based absurdity, we aim to create more questions than answers in this multi-monitor interactive experience.
Audio Transcript
Stories for your trans community, your politician, and your uncle.
Delivered in a room of shattered mirrors, six transmasculine individuals living in the southern U.S. tell their clinical stories. Compiled among a sea of pharmacy voicemails, each interviewee explores the duality of transitioning medically, the personal impact felt by limited clinical resources, and their imagined “perfect world” for clinical spaces.
The multi-monitor display of (H)OUR GLASS.'s interactive doctor's appointment.
The shattered glass piece, offering opportunities of reflection with full length mirrors lining the remaining walls.
Initial 3D rendering of the gallery rooms hosting (H)OUR GLASS. All credit to Flutter & Wow.
Initial concept art of (H)OUR GLASS. for illustration of multi-media placement and visitor traffic flow.
Set-up for (H)OUR GLASS.'s artist's talk and Q&A within Science Gallery Atlanta.
Presentation of (H)OUR GLASS. and discussion of utilizing art for science communication at ComSciCon Flagship Workshop 2023.
An interactive experience for the Atlanta community and beyond.
Following the development for Science Gallery Atlanta’s JUSTICE exhibition, we remained committed to communicating the research-backed illustrated experiences of (H)OUR GLASS. with the public as well as the scientific community. Discussions surrounding (H)OUR GLASS. and the power of using art for innovative science communication were brought to a free artist’s panel hosted at the gallery, ComSciCon’s Flagship Workshop, and the Inclusive SciComm Symposium hosted by the Metcalf Institute.
Artists and Collaborators of (H)OUR GLASS.
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Eli Chlan
Emory Ph.D. Candidate · Artist
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Kenny Oaster
Atlanta-based Artist
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Collaborators · Participants