Viper in my grave

Viper in my grave, an art and writing zine by Antonis Sideras.

16 x 118 cm. Scroll. Printed paper and acrylic paint, metallic reflective sticker paper, cotton string.

Trauma. What is it? How does it form, and how does it affect us? In my instance, I found it to be like a snake which burrowed its way into the depths of my mind. I could feel it twist and coil inside my abdomen, and slither up my chest tightening its grip around my neck. I felt that it sank me into a depression that deprived me of any moments of joy, by whispering lies to me, making me fearful of what the future may hold.

With the help of psychotherapy, learning more about mental health and through many earnest reflections, I have realised that I deserve to feel that joy. I deserve to experience peace, and that is how Viper in my grave came about. Through this collection of original writing and art, I confront the experiences that traumatised me during my formative years, and I attempt to make peace with them. The process also involves mourning the loss of my innocence and connection to my culture, following being ostracised for being queer.

Viper in my grave, becomes a rebellion, staged by subverting Cypriot and Hellenic cultural tropes, to make a new epic in which I liberate myself from the grip of my ancestors, and claim a life worth living for myself.

Read the digital edition here.