“I Am Like the Deep Sea”—Queer Artist Sirius Calls for Visibility & Acceptance

New Delhi, June 2025 — In an emotionally resonant showcase at a recent queer art exhibition in New Delhi, artist Sirius made waves with his bold, introspective artwork and a powerful message on identity and representation. His work, deeply rooted in metaphor, invites viewers to look beyond surface perceptions—and listen to what lies beneath.

Sirius’s canvas is inhabited by deep sea creatures—ethereal, solitary, often misunderstood beings of the ocean. “They are calm, quiet, and mind their own world,” Sirius shared. “But the world labels them dangerous simply because they live in the unknown. That’s how queer people are treated too—we’re feared, excluded, and judged, just for existing differently.”

His artwork is a deeply personal expression of what it means to live as a queer person in a world that too often chooses stigma over understanding. With delicate strokes and haunting imagery, he paints the stillness, the strength, and the beauty of life beneath the surface—making a clear statement: queer identity is not a threat; it is simply another form of existence.

Sirius also spoke candidly about the lack of space for queer artists in the mainstream art world, where queer stories are either silenced or sensationalised. “We are artists, just like anyone else. Our art deserves to be seen for its truth, not as a novelty or a token,” he said.

He strongly called out society’s tendency to shame queer identity, especially in cultural and public spaces. “We need to stop treating queerness as a whisper in the margins,” he urged. “We deserve to exist in the centre, not in hiding.”

Through his sea creatures—gentle yet powerful—Sirius offers not just a visual treat, but a reminder of empathy. His art asks viewers to confront their biases, to understand that what is unfamiliar isn’t unnatural, and to make room for narratives that have long been pushed into the deep.

As his audience stood before the vast blue canvases, many left not only moved, but more aware. In a society still learning how to accept, Sirius’s voice is more than artistic—it’s essential.