A Gallery by Peaches

Words and images by Peaches

diptych | Bound to the Moon, Bound to Myself: V facing a projection of (a stone depicting) Coyolxauhqui, whom I learned to be the Moon goddess in Aztec mythology, while removing their chest binder and finally breathing.

I had the pleasure of photographing the love shared between my best friends. To depict the fullness of their identities, I had the decolonized parts of themselves (gender) and the colonized parts of their culture (Catholicism) share the same space, highlighting the coexistence of queerness and religion. Of course, identity is nuanced, and not everyone can claim indigeneity. However, I am interested in the reclamation of an erased history and culture. I am interested in the return to ancestral roots, the discovery of information lost and/or rewritten. I am interested in imagining ourselves detached from colonization and whiteness — who we would be, had we been untouched.
(And, actually, more than the coexistence of queerness and religion, I like seeing the replacement of white/mestizo, cishet Omnipotence with queer, Black and Brown Divinity)

untitled: V and Val holding each other, freely sharing intimacy before Coyolxauhqui.

Love Me in the Dark: V and Val kissing in the shadows of a brightly projected La Virgen de Guadalupe, displaying a timid yet shameless act of affection.

untitled: V and Val sharing a subtle kiss behind catholic prayer candles wrapped in rosaries.

In these photos, you will spot imagery that symbolizes both precolonial and postcolonial belief/faith as well as queer identity, love, and intimacy.

In these photos, you will notice a change in the way the couple expresses their love based on the imagery surrounding them. (Free queer love uninterrupted vs. suppressed/hidden queer love as a result of colonization).

Asia and I practicing physical touch as a love language.

As a very words of aff person, I often make the mistake of comforting my loved ones in ways that may be unfulfilling to them. At 21 years of age, Asia and I are deprived of Mother’s Love, Mother’s Touch — deprived of being held and protected by our birth moms. The difference between us is: I don’t crave that physical intimacy, and sometimes I fear touch. But, when Asia is held, she feels seen, she feels heard, she feels recognized, she feels wanted, she feels needed, she feels worthy, she feels valued, she feels safe. I’m learning that while the action of touch is momentary, the softness of another person’s skin on top of yours lingers, securing, and in some cases immortalizing, the connection between you both. The more I hold Asia’s hand, hug her goodbye, and rest my head on her shoulder as we sleep, the more I see us heal — together. Considering our frequent banter and our slightly active/passive relationship dynamic, this new practice of physical closeness initially felt a lil forced. But because our connection has grown stronger with each touch, loving Asia ..through the naps we take together, the baths we give each other, and the familial act of holding one another.. has become organic, easy, and remedial.

V and I exploring intimacy, falling in platonic love, and finding Home within each other.

These photos were taken for a class assignment featuring the depiction of ‘Home.’ They were a bit rushed, and I’m not super proud of them, but the process of making art with my soulmate already felt like Home in itself. During the process, I relived parts of mine and V’s friendship previously lost with our past. What were once memories buried within the heart of someone I no longer am, are now moments I can recreate as I return to my past self.

I remember falling in love with V — falling in love with all my friends — when we were 18. I remember experiencing the rejuvenation, the restoration, and the liberation that came with platonic love. I felt so lucky to receive fulfillment at such a young age. But with the physical distance that came from 1) us growing up and 2) self-isolation under the pandemic, I was convinced that the closeness between all of us was far from my reach. Reunion proved me wrong. Tbh I don’t know why it took so much for me to remember that my strongest friendships are infinite. They transcend and deconstruct time; they function against all odds; they stay constant as the world keeps moving. I’m actually kind of amazed by how concrete the foundation of my friendships are. Have I just been lucky? My friends are my chosen family, and platonic love is the best feeling I’ve ever experienced to this day. I’m thankful that I can unlock the warm feelings from my past and relive those memories in real time. I’m thankful that the freshness of our once-teenage love can withstand emotional erosion and distance and stay young while we grow old.

V, I fell in love with you at 18, and everyday since then, I’ve grown to love you more. You are my past, my present, and my future. Your love has housed me — you are my Home.