Katja Zimmer

About

    “transonofre“ navigates the healthcare bureaucracy of receiving gender affirming care through the dismantling of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, located at the border of San Diego and Orange County. Created while Zimmer was the artist in residence at the BAB Newsstand, transonofre takes place over four installments: billboard, bus stop, zine, and procedure.
    In “billboard” and “bus stop” Zimmer examines the coded language in which we must talk about gender affirming care even in a state where it is supposedly protected. Drawing on the styling of medical ads common to the region and the mounting techniques of low/no cost DIY print projects an alternative reality is fused: one where nuclear plants recieving care is just another sight advertised on the freeway, pasted over in another three months.
    “zine” narrates the transition process from San Onofre’s perspective. Printed at Burn All Books in San Diego, CA, the zine is composed of personal photos and medical bill statements collaged with text written by Zimmer. Proceeds from the zine went to the Transgender Intersex Gender Expansive Justice Fund (TGIJP).
    In “procedure,” the final installment of the newsstand takeover, attendees at EXPO filled out a medical questionnaire to determine insurance coverage and eligibility for a dual incision nuclear mastectomy. After determining coverage and eligibility in a brief consultation, Zimmer then performed the surgery publicly on a risograph edition.

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