Connor Baker

When I started making the flap anatomy that was inspired by “The Trauma Cleaner,” my creative process became a purposeful inquiry into the depths of human experience. Making the conscious choice to read Sarah Krasnostein’s story was a start toward understanding the complexities of the trauma-cleaning industry, a field that is sometimes shrouded in secret. ‘The Trauma Cleaner’ was fascinating because it offered to reveal more about the remarkable life and work of Sandra Pankhurst, a transgender woman, who balances being a trauma cleaner and going through a life-changing transition. My interest in the relationship between identity, resilience, and the severe effects of trauma on people as well as the environments they occupy led me to choose to read this story. The project’s conceptual implications reflect the subtleties of Sandra’s life and career. This flap anatomy allows people to go deeper into the mental and physical environments she experiences. The narrative starts with the exterior layer of the body, which is both recognizable and symbolic. It then mixes scenes of Sandra’s transformational deeds, her dual identities, and then her healing process. With carefully selected images and included passages from “The Trauma Cleaner,” every layer serves as a purposeful part that adds to the larger story. While Layer 3 explores the depth of Sandra’s experiences and the lives she touches on an emotional level, Layer 2’s symbolic aspects capture Sandra’s strength. My goal in writing this is not just to portray situations, but to capture the spirit of “The Trauma Cleaner”—a tale that goes beyond everyday life and shows that healing can occur in unexpected places. This project is an artistic attempt to illustrate the layers of the human spirit, exploring empathy and transformation. I urge viewers to become fully invested in Sandra’s journey as they raise each flap, and consequently, in the universal themes of resiliency and renewal that speak to all of us.