Fish (2017–2018)

Fish is a performance work first developed and presented during the early stages of Mossy’s medical transition. Combining movement, sound, costume, props, and wearable sculptures, the piece interrogates themes of "passability"—the ability of a transgender woman to be perceived as cisgender. The title Fish draws inspiration from language used within Mossy’s community, with roots in New York’s ballroom culture of the late 1980s. To be "fish" or "fishy" refers to a trans woman or drag performer embodying an exaggerated femininity, often associated with the idea of "passing."

In this work, Mossy deconstructs and challenges the curated ideals of femininity, exploring vulnerability, privacy, and transformation. The performance delves into the tensions of inhabiting her own skin during a period of profound change, confronting both the external gaze and her internal journey. With a raw fish as a recurring prop, she embodies the complex symbolism of her mission: the weight of societal expectations, the ephemeral nature of identity, and the challenges of renewal. The fish becomes a visceral metaphor—unattainable, decaying, yet deeply tied to purpose.

The performance is accompanied by an immersive soundscape, composed and produced by Mossy. The centerpiece of the soundtrack is her poem, I’m Here (2017), delivered in her own voice, layering intimacy and defiance over an evocative auditory landscape.