SAFE SPACE

A safe space is freedom, it’s love – a place where judgement does not exist. This is a place we honour every day. Santa would not exist without it. That space is the reason we all need to keep fighting: so that those who don’t have it yet and dream about it feel that they deserve it. And to change the minds of those who still think differently.

On the occasion of Pride, we are collaborating with three different artists who belong to the LGTBIQ+ community and whose work we truly admire. We asked them to create a piece that depicts that safe space, showing us what it means to them. It’s funny that the representation of a safe space, for all of us, was a hug. This wasn’t planned, but after a year of social distancing, being able to feel close to the people we love is the best representation we can think of.

“A safe place is a place where you truly feel like yourself. A place where you feel supported and you can express yourself freely. This piece represents a series of human shapes who share a common space with love and respect.”

“To me, hugs make all the difference. They’re a simple sign of affection but, in many cases, they’re also a privilege – we can’t forget that many of us are free to hug and love whoever we want but there are many places where it doesn’t work that way. This is illogical and we all should come together to change it.”

“A safe space is anywhere you can feel free to express yourself fully and without shame. This can be with others or on your own. It can be a physical space or the space you create between connections. It’s important to recognize that we are all connected and that when we allow others to express themselves in a way that makes them feel safe you are doing the same thing for yourself. Safe spaces are about respect, trust, and the absence of shame. This piece is meant to illustrate both the physical and metaphorical safe spaces we create for ourselves as queer people.”