Hello everyone! This week I will be featuring one of my close friends, Alex. They are a spectacular individual with an incredible mind. Their photography and work speaks in ways I cannot describe. They’re truly inspirational. For example, the pictures above are self portraits of them. The poem that goes with this piece is absolutely breathtaking. So much truth is latched onto this. Especially the “preferred” pronouns mention. We don’t have preferred pronouns. We just have pronouns. Which is something that stuck out to me. But yes please read their poem before continuing. It’s an amazing read.
I was also given the chance to interview them about their photography and their thoughts on being non binary.
When did you start doing photography?
I started doing photography around age 15 or so, taking pictures of my friends in my backyard for fun. I liked dressing them up and making them look like models from America’s Next Top Model. Which is kind of embarrassing. But it was a good way to express myself. I got a lot more serious in high school when I start taking photography classes. It was nice to find something that I was finally good at.
How has photography influenced your life in terms of expressing your gender identity?
I don’t know how much influence over expressing my gender identity photography has had. I know that there was a large part of my life where self portraits helped me to be more loving and accepting of myself. Now I think that my gender identity plays into my art in small ways. Does this make sense? I don’t know.
Do you have any plans to use your art to help the community? If so, in what ways?
I definitely have been thinking about starting a series on older queer and trans people as I believe that a lot of the focus on trans people are on younger generations. I also want to use my voice as an artist and photographer to bring attention to trans issues.
What is the biggest obstacle that you have faced being non binary, and how do you cope/deal with it?
I guess the biggest obstacle I have faced is just myself, I think I’ve known (in some small way) since I was 16 and I dated the first trans person I have ever known that was out to the world. He opened up a whole new world of gender expression for me. But I’ve just kind of been living as my “assigned gender” until about a year ago or so. As I’ve opened myself up to the possibility it’s been amazing how much more comfortable with myself I have become. I often have to remind myself that my gender is for myself and myself alone, and that how I feel is valid and real no matter how others treat or perceive me.
Who are your inspirations who helps you work towards your photography?
My high school photography teacher is probably my biggest influence. He always encouraged me to do more. He saw that I had potential and he encouraged me to keep at it. Now I think that my biggest influences are my peers. I attend an art school and being around so many creative and talented people is so incredible. People like Mari (gravewines.tumblr.com) and Alexis (nuages-noir.tumblr.com) as well as the models I have worked with and friends and family.
If you have any advice for someone who is non binary, what would it be?
If I could give anyone advice about being non-binary or any gender for that matter it would be to realize that everyone expresses their gender in different ways, and that the way everyone experiences gender is unique. But that finding others that identify outside of being cis is so so valuable. A large majority of the friends I keep are queer in some aspect or the other, and I have never felt more like myself until now. And that all of what you’re experiencing in terms of your gender is valid and real. Always.
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