Hate Mail Origami

This project functions as mediative reflection on childhood trauma. These origami figures are made out of letters that I received from the church that I grew up in. Since coming out as a gay man and leaving that church, the elders have been sending me mail asking me to repent, warning me of hell, etc. I read the first few letters and have proceeded to store the rest - unopened. The same people who indoctrinated me into these hateful teachings were also the people who taught me basic life skills as a child. I decided to use some of those basic skills they taught me (specifically origami) on these letters that they sent me. As I folded the creations, I still did not read the letters. I plan to gift each these creations to different people. The recipient will then be tasked with deciding what to do with their origami creation. They can choose to leave it as is, or unfold it and discover part of the hateful messages being directed at me. Either way, it is my hope that this piece bestows on its recipient a sense of investment and responsibility on this larger issue of hateful indoctrination.