This Pride Month we talked to Gabe Merezeanu, a BA Graphic Design student at Camberwell who will be graduating later this year. Gabe created the project “TRANSport for London”, which is a series of posters that focus on the lack of access to gender affirming healthcare in London. We caught up with Gabe to better understand the inspiration and technical process behind his project.
Can you please introduce yourself?
I'm Gabe Merezeanu, a print designer and activist concerned with transness, reclamation and joy. In my work, I share my experiences as a transmasculine person and challenge traditional ideas about gender.
How did you develop the concept of your TRANSport for London posters?
I really wanted my audience to connect with my messaging and I thought of a way to best present it. Now the waiting lists for Gender Affirming Healthcare in London are quite long and it is difficult for people to understand it if they are not actively experiencing them. So, I made this relatable to my audience by connecting this with the waiting you experience for public transport. The TRANSport for London campaign was designed to reach out to those who are waiting at bus stops and invite them to spend that time considering the issue of access to Gender Affirming Healthcare.
What was the process to create and finish the project?
I studied the visual language of Transport for London before developing my own subversion of it. I looked at the typefaces, layouts, logos, and general aesthetics of several TfL campaigns and then began the actual design work of my posters.
In terms of technique, I experimented with working in 3D to produce the illustrations for the posters. I first created two-dimensional objects which I then transformed into 3D to create the final effect.
What are the benefits of subverting a well-established design scheme?
I think one of my tutors said it best when he put it as a matter of “borrowing” authority from existing brands. So much of our public space, especially in cities like London, is inundated with advertisem*nts, so reclaiming those spaces, as well as the authority inherent to them, is an incredibly powerful creative tool.
Additionally, I feel like it adds a sense of expectation to the work—what would the world look like if these iconic brands (who frequently only engage with queer issues on the most superficial level) actively took a stance for Trans Rights?
Can you talk us through how art and activism intersect in your opinion?
The way I see it, it’s impossible to exist as an artist without simultaneously being an activist. This is true especially for artists originating from minority communities, such as queer artists. In terms of queerness specifically, there is an incredibly rich history of people and communities using their art as a form of resilience, protest, and activism. It has become less about an intersection between queer art and activism, and more about queer art being a form of activism. I connect deeply with this history in my own work, which focuses on queer and trans joy as a way to resist today's challenging social and political climate.
Which aspect of your work are you most proud of?
The attention to detail I exhibited in my posters—several people mistook them for official TFL posters at first!
I think my rigour in studying the visual language of Transport for London really paid off and led to a well-developed outcome. I designed posters that effectively communicated my messaging, addressing the issue of access to Gender Affirming Healthcare directly. I hope my message becomes part of a much-needed conversation and ultimate reformation of the Trans Healthcare in the UK.
Do you have any future plans for your artistic practice that you can share with us?
My final project is currently on display as part of the 2024 Camberwell College of Arts Degree Show, and until the 15th of June. You can see my final work and documentation of its production onUAL’s Degree Showcasewebsite
Also, I can't reveal much about this now, but I'm looking forward to returning to Bucharest for Queer History Month this coming October.
Why do you think the world needs creativity?
Creativity is the driving force of innovation and change. It is the source of very necessary disruption, and an incredibly powerful tool in terms of resilience, community-building and activism. Creativity is crucial to our world, a foundational pillar of humanity; as to be human means to create, whether it's through art, or any other field.
Finally, can you share what Pride means to you?
To me, Pride is all about honouring and celebrating the communities we are part of. Without the support and love of my community, I would not be where I am today; and I am incredibly thankful to have connected with so many wonderful people through our shared queerness.
The queer community is facing many challenges in our current socio-political climate, and it is important for us to come together as a community that supports each other. Pride is an excellent opportunity to do just that. So, show your community some love this Pride!
