MARLA BENDINI
Transboundary Homecoming

2023
Mixed Media Collage on Canvas
21 x 21cm

Transboundary Homecoming examines the experiences of transgender alumni returning to their alma mater in conservative Singapore.

In Bendini's paintings, books symbolise encounters with institutions, with her trans identity teaching her to listen to esoteric voices and hold space outside of societal norms. She compares personal journeys to flipping pages in adventure books, emphasising the importance of openness to alternative routes and outcomes. Bendini invokes the butterfly as a metaphor for transformative personal growth, with the creature's fluttering wings ushering in a new chapter of self-discovery.