Other Realms

Strike a Rose is an illustrated series inspired by ballroom culture and the iconic expression “strike a pose.” The title reimagines the classic rose — a symbol often tied to traditional ideas of beauty and romance — by replacing it with bold, colorful, and sassy imaginary flowers that celebrate queer identity, transformation, and self-expression. Through vibrant characters and floral forms, the series challenges what is considered normative while embracing performance, freedom, and individuality. For the first time, a selection of illustrations from the series will be transformed into large-scale murals across the festival space.