Explored through the eyes of Bonnibel Rambatan, masculinity in Southeast Asia reveals a deeply personal dimension. As a transfeminine nonbinary person, Bonni’s youth was shaped by silence, resistance, and self-discovery. These sequential art unfold a story from hiding to healing, revealing how gender norms shape not only society but also the tender, complex lives within it. Through memory and art, Bonni invites us to see masculinity as something to question, reshape, and reimagine.
Bonnibel Rambatan is a transfeminine nonbinary writer, artist, and critical theorist. They currently serve as Director of Arts and Creative Expression at Rainbow Panda, a community for the welfare of queer and trans children in Asia. An independent scholar and artist, Bonni is passionate about finding new possibilities for solidarity and liberation. Their latest work is Event Horizon: Sexuality, Politics, Online Culture, and the Limits of Capitalism (with Jacob Johanssen, published by Zer0 Books in 2022).
This comic first appeared here: www.boell.de
Contributions from Southeast Asia can also be found here.