Identity = context time²
Exploring layered identity & the inner architecture of rupture and repair.
#I=ct²
A brief histoy of Sicco/Francisco.
Francisco is an artist‑activist, educator, and concept developer whose work explores identity as an ecological and temporal process. Growing up between cultures and later experiencing a forced rupture from language, gender expression, and family, Francisco developed a practice centred on how identities are shaped, broken, and rebuilt. This lived experience forms the foundation of ‘A field study on identity’, an ongoing research project that examines time, ancestry, and belonging through sculptural and conceptual models.
Francisco’s work spans sculpture, writing, participatory art, and socially engaged research. He has developed tactile art lines, collaborative manuals, and conceptual frameworks that translate complex theory into accessible, hands‑on formats. His practice is informed by experience as a mental health (recovery) worker and human rights activist, bringing sensitivity, responsibility, and relational awareness into his artistic approach.
Francisco has taught creative development, led workshops at the Verbeke Foundation, and contributed to international film, graphic novels, and award‑nominated sci‑fi projects. He founded the activist group Tosti‑Verzet to oppose the exploitation of vulnerable youth. His artistic research currently focuses on the ‘Spiral Time Model’, a conceptual and sculptural system that reimagines time as a spiral rather than a line, and reassembles the fourth dimension.
Worthless Night, 2015
A series of photographs depicting my sorrow over malicious slander.
The White Cube Elite, 2013
Exhibited in Amsterdam.
A neon sign that highlights the debate on how art has become so complicated for the commons that the art scene has become its own audience. For many, art is part of their identity; it sets them apart from “the other”. It gives them a sense of belonging to an elite group. But don’t we all long for the same acknowledgment?
About the event
The Spiral Time
The most “autonomous artistically substantive” work, my theory about the fourth dimension. It might be a theory that is difficult to grasp, but through the soft tones of storytelling I’ll explain it to you step by step.
Photos.
About the name Sicco/Francisco
As I mentioned before, I was the victim of libel and slander. When I finally decided to live up to my true identity, this, of course, led to gossip. People would say, “Anyone who calls themselves Sick-o isn’t a real transgender person.” I said, “Okay, if you find Sik-ko difficult to pronounce (it’s a typically Dutch name, after all…), then just call me Francisco.” During my trip to China, I discovered that it’s pretty common there to use an international name alongside your native-language name. That’s why I kept this pseudonym; I thought it was a clever Chinese custom to use two names! So that’s why: Ik ben Sicco – I AM FRANCISCO (call me Cisco 😉)
Music sheets with painter’s tape, 2026
Lost in Train, 2013
A collection of collages I accidentally forgot on the train, hoping they’re still there somewhere…
Coming Out, 2020
Despite knowing as a child that I was a true “trans boy,” my upbringing from age nine-ish centred on an adult life as a woman. Despite all the earlier attempts, I finally succeeded in 2020 to come out once and for all. After overcoming memory loss due to brain damage, I refound my true identity and started my transition. I wanted to share my journey of realising this to help others feel seen and understood.
Not the clog dance, 2024
In my observation, “gabberen” originated from Dutch clog dancing, a tradition that reflects a rich cultural history worth exploring. The dance scene, a musical style originating in the Netherlands, is now well known worldwide. In the Netherlands, it’s not limited to an adaptation of clog dancing; many ways to experience this hard-beat music have emerged. One of these styles takes root in the underground and is characterised by influences from many global cultures. To complement this ritual, I present these masks, inspired by cultures that coexist with pacha mama.
