Leech

Artist Statement: Leech

In this piece, the hermaphroditic leech serves as both subject and symbol—a creature that challenges rigid classifications, embodying transformation, adaptability, and the fluidity of identity. The leech exists beyond conventional binaries, possessing both male and female reproductive organs, a living testament to nature’s defiance of strict categorization.

Often misunderstood or reviled, the leech is, in reality, a survivor, an organism that thrives through connection. Its existence depends on interaction, attachment, and the exchange of life force—provoking questions about dependence, symbiosis, and the unseen relationships that sustain us.

The Leech becomes a reflection of our own evolving identities, revealing the beauty in multiplicity and the power of embracing the in-between.