“Hi, Mom.” is a semi-autobiographical audio experience woven from over a dozen trans stories. Presented as a series of voicemails left for a mother who has passed away, this piece invites listeners into the emotional landscape of transition. Each message holds both loss and discovery, and together, they tell a story of navigating fear and grief in the journey toward one’s authentic self.
The Experience
The participant is guided through a space to a chat by a small table lit by a single lamp. It looks like someone may have just gotten up. Hot tea is cooling in a mug. Nail polish sits with clippers, ready to be used. Perhaps they went to check the pantry before adding more items added to the grocery list that sits half complete. Also among all of these day to day objects is an old cell phone. A blue Nokia handset with a single button illuminated.
The participant presses the button and holds it to their ear. “Ring…..ring….Hello, you have, 9 new messages…..Message 1. Hi, Mom. Its Dave, nothings wrong really, I was just hoping to catch you…”
Each of the 9 voicemails plays in turn and tells the story of transitioning as a non-binary person in our present day.
“End of messages. Your voice mailbox is now full.” The phone was sitting on an envelope that read “Open after listening.” The letter inside finishes the story, a message of moving on with their journey, and offering a hopeful outlook.
