I’m Sorry. Forgive Me. Thank You. I Love You. - Kaoly Gutierrez

Written By Susan Patrice
 
 

I’m sorry. Forgive me. Thank you. I love you.

Kaoly Gutierrez

 

This project relates to other bodies—both literal and metaphorical—by exploring how personal experiences, emotions, and histories shape interactions with others. The “bodies” in question aren’t just physical, but represent the relational dynamics and energies between people: the hidden thoughts, judgments, desires, and unspoken histories that linger in our connections.

By reflecting on past romantic interactions and revisiting the energy exchanges between myself and those I’ve been close to, the project considers how my own body (my past, my emotions, my trauma) has influenced how I relate to others’ bodies—whether in terms of attraction, attachment, or emotional distance.

The "bodies" involved are also collective: this exploration isn't just a solitary act but an invitation to see how shared experiences of desire, loss, and longing exist between people, particularly in queer and feminine relationships. It’s about recognizing how our individual histories and traumas are written on our bodies, how these influence our desires and judgments, and how we can unearth and understand these dynamics to ultimately achieve healing and forgiveness, both for ourselves and in our relationships with others.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Kaoly Gutierrez, (b.2003) is a Mexican documentary photographer raised in the mountains of Southern Appalachia. Born in Mexico, she immigrated to the United States with her parents and her two brothers when she was 3 years old. She has spent most of her adult life working in construction. Without any formal art school training, she became drawn to photography in her spare time as a means of exploring people's stories and relating to the world around her. An internship in 2022-2023 provided her with invaluable insights, vocabulary, and skills in the field. She primarily shoots documentary and portrait photography. For Kaoly, photographing is a natural way to facilitate interactions in her life; it is a means for both caring for herself and those around her through the attention she imbues through the lens.

Instagram: @KaolyGTZ

 
Susan Patrice

As the founder and director of Makers Circle, Susan Patrice designs and implements arts-informed community initiatives in partnership with non-arts organizations who want to expand their reach and impact through innovative cross-sector collaboration. Makers Circle has a deep passion for the power of the creative process to encourage adaptive change, expand awareness, and open up new ways of seeing and relating. We believe that the arts and artists should play a major role in community regeneration and non-profit advancement. Web design and digital storytelling are foundational to the work we do with non-profits.

https://kinship.photography/
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