Self-evident truths are statements that are inherently obvious and do not require any further explanation or proof. These truths are so universally accepted that they are often taken for granted and rarely questioned. However, when examined more closely, self-evident truths can reveal deeper layers of meaning and significance.
One person who has dedicated her life to exploring self-evident truths is iO Tillett Wright. Wright is a multi-disciplinary artist, activist, and writer who has spent her career exploring issues of identity, gender, and sexuality. In her work, Wright challenges the self-evident truths that society holds about these topics and seeks to broaden our understanding of what it means to be human.
One of the most powerful examples of Wright’s exploration of self-evident truths is her project “Self Evident Truths”. This project, which started in 2010, is a portrait series that seeks to document 10,000 people who identify as anything other than 100% straight. The project’s goal is to challenge the self-evident truth that heterosexuality is the default or “normal” sexual orientation and to celebrate the diversity of human sexuality.
Through her portraits and accompanying stories, Wright shows us that sexual orientation is not a binary choice between gay or straight but rather a complex and fluid spectrum. By highlighting the experiences of people who identify as bisexual, pansexual, asexual, and many other identities, Wright challenges the self-evident truth that sexual orientation is a simple and fixed characteristic.
Wright’s work on self-evident truths extends beyond issues of sexuality and gender. In her TED Talk “Fifty Shades of Gay”, she discusses her experiences growing up as a tomboy and how the self-evident truth that there are only two genders limited her understanding of herself. She also discusses the self-evident truth that society holds about masculinity and femininity and how these stereotypes harm both men and women.
Through her art and activism, iO Tillett Wright challenges us to question the self-evident truths that we hold and to explore the complexity of the human experience. She shows us that what may seem obvious at first glance is often much more complicated than we realize and that by challenging these self-evident truths, we can create a more inclusive and compassionate society.
In conclusion, self-evident truths are statements that are so universally accepted that they are rarely questioned. However, when examined more closely, these truths can reveal deeper layers of meaning and significance. iO Tillett Wright’s work on self-evident truths challenges us to question the assumptions that we hold about ourselves and others and to embrace the complexity of the human experience.
Stone Thrower 