QUEER SKIN: PORTRAITS OF POWER AND PRIDE

The photography exhibit Queer Skin, which is part of the first-ever Southeast Asia Queer Cultural Festival, showcases persons of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, depicted with much pride

Fashion photography has been used to glamorize subjects, highlighting beauty and design, adhering to a narrow standard of beauty and often employing the art of deception. It has been shaped by queer people but more often for the service of others. Now, this same mode of photography, of seeing, presenting and immortalizing is utilized to highlight gender identities that are often marginalized and erased, despite being an important source of inspiration in the field.

The photography exhibit Queer Skin, which can be viewed online at seaqcf.net/program/queer-skin, as part of the first-ever Southeast Asia Queer Cultural Festival (SEAQCF), showcases persons of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, depicted with much pride.

Thai queer and non-binary fashion designer and LGBTQ+ rights advocate Pong Charan shows the beauty of gender-diverse persons, who often do conform to the “conventional” sense of beauty in the fashion world. But these photographs depict real persons with lived experiences and stories, showing that beauty lies in the diversity of humanity and our ability to embrace it. who is intersex; pansexual woman Kornkanok Khumta; Ninar Thanita, who identifies as queer; Jim, a transgender man; Catherine Watson, who is non-binary; Raptor (Sirabhob Attohi), who is queer; transfeminine Subhisara Srimaharaja; and gender-fluid Petroi Watcharapisut.

The exhibit is on view till 13 March, during SEAQCF, organized by ASEAN SOGIE Caucus.

RAPTOR, who identifies as queer. TRANSGENDER woman Panan Chanya.

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF SEAQCF PONG Charan with models and staff.

TRANS feminine Subhisara Srimaharaja and gender fluid Petroi Watcharapisut.

KEKEY Fuey, who identifies as gender queer, biromantic and asexual.

PANSEXUAL woman Kornkanok Khumta.

TRANS man Jim.