“Call Me Caitlyn,” a Documentary
With her cover of Vanity Fair, her television show and a huge social media fan base it is easy to think Caitlyn Jenner has had an easy transition.
But look online and not everyone has been as accepting of the transgender star with the comment section of her Twitter filled with people telling the 65-year-old "to go die" and that she is a "freak" and a "perv".
English artist Conor Collinssaw those messages of hate and decided he wanted to make something beautiful from them, using the tweets to create a portrait of Caitlyn.
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Finding a positive: An artist has turned violent and threatening tweets about Caitlyn Jenner into an artwork
Based off the reality star"s Vanity Fair cover, at first glance the black and white image looks like a line drawing but on closer inspection Caitlyn"s form is created using the very words that sought to take her down.
Thanks to social media Conor"s artwork was quickly shared by hundreds and eventually his subject, Caitlyn, also saw the work.
Taking to Twitter on Wednesday night, the former Olympian praised the Manchester-based artist.
Praise:Thanks to social media the work was quickly shared by hundreds and eventually his subject, Caitlyn, also saw the work and tweeted her thanks on Wednesday
Target: White it may have seemed like the world was accepting of the 65-year-old (pictured July)not everyone has been with the comment section of her Twitter filled with people telling the 65-year-old "to go die" and that she is a "freak" and a "perv"
The star write: "Turning hate into love is so beautiful and powerful - great job by this artist."
Of course, the tweet by the world"s newest Social Media Queen as crowed at the Teen Choice Awards on Sunday instantly turned the work and the artist into a trending topic on Twitter.
Iconic: The piece of art was created by English artist Conor Collins who used the star"s Vanity Fair cover
Taking to his own Twitter, Conor thanked those who shared the piece for their support.
"Feeling rather overwhelmed by the response to my painting. Not to mention the vibrate function on my phone is well and truly dead!
"Brother just called me to say that mum text him saying ""Conor"s become viral on that bird call site."""
Speaking to the DailyMail.com Conor said he had hoped his work would touch people but did not even think on this scale.
He said on Thursday morning: "I didn"t think I would be a trending topic, however, when I finished the painting I did think it may strike a chord with people, however I am very moved that people have felt so emotionally engaged by it.
"It seems to have spread really quickly and the responses are on the whole really rather positive. For every person who sees it, another person is shown the persecution and real danger trans people face."
However, Conor has also been subjected to just a taste of what his subject receives daily: "I"ve received a fair bit of hate mail in my emails overnight from people who hate the transgendered community, or hate me, or just generally hate a lot of things.
"But I find the more hate mail I receive...the better job I am probably doing."
Conor initially came across the hateful responses after Caitlyn first revealed her true self.
He told the DailyMail.com: "I admire what Caitlyn has done and how she has used her position and privileged to make a difference.
Deceptively hate-filled: At first glance the black and white image looks like a line drawing but on closer inspection Caitlyn"s form is created using the very words that sought to take her down
Tough work: The artist said he struggled to read and then re-writing some of the comments from Caitlyn"s Twitter account
"So naturally like anyone curious I went on her twitter to see more, and was horrified by some of the comments. When I saw these I wanted to show them because it is a reality of what trans people experience every day.
"Caitlyn"s making a difference to the trans community, however, I didnt want to hide the darkness and persecution they face in my art piece. It just wouldnt be fair."
Reading through and the re-writing the comments and threats took its toll on the artist but he was determined to finish, and completed the work in just one night despite his pieces normally taking two months to two years.
New point of view: Conor said he hoped the work will make people realise the struggles trans people face
"To get through it I ended up working through half a bottle of whiskey and didn"t stop working on the painting till the small hours of the morning. I am not sure how I kept a steady hand, however I don"t think I could have written so much hate sober."
While Caitlyn has not reached out personally to Conor, the artist was just excited that she had seen his work.
"Outside of the [re-tweet] I haven"t heard from Caitlyn, however I can understand she must be totally run off her feet of late. So happy with the RT alone!"
Trending comment: The tweet by the world"s newest Social Media Queen as crowed at the Teen Choice Awards on Sunday instantly turned the work and the artist into a trending topic on Twitter
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