Kin. launches and moves to IHLIA at The Central Library [OBA]
Kin. launched at The Wheelhouse on 15th April and the turnout was fantastic. I showed 13x large format prints from my collected materials to date which culminated in a series of portraits of selected members of The House of Løstbois. The bois also performed at the opening and we were able to welcome the public into our intimate world.
My intention with the photography edit was to provide a glimpse at the special community that drag has provided me with and to present pictures celebrating my beautiful friends.
Drag has taught me many new things.
I know how to bind my chest how to ‘pack’ and how to apply a very realistic beard. I’ve experienced dealing with various sorts of public and their reaction to me in drag and how that reflects back to me. But most importantly it has reminded me of a kind of lost knowledge that great friendship, is built on a foundation of vulnerability.
Portrait of ‘$nake’ with Mother - Club Church, Amsterdam, May 2019
The first time I went to Drag King Academy I was alone with 30 strangers. We were asked to tune into our masculinity and walk across the nightclub floor to music, while the others watched. It was intense, incredibly powerful, and totally vulnerable. Club ChUrch had provided a safe and brave space where we could explore gender together with total freedom and nothing was off-limits. Each of us in our own creative process birthing a new persona and all that came with that. Fertile ground for meaningful relationships, indeed.
Rock de Bizarre’ and ‘Lucian Squid’ at Milkshake Festival - Westerpark, Amsterdam, July 2019
The Mother of the House at home, ‘Taka Taka’ - Central Amsterdam, October 2020
Self portrait, ‘The Bill Please’ - Backstage at Club Church, Amsterdam, January 2020
Toby Decided’ at Club Church - Club Church, Amsterdam, February 2020
I’m now very happy to announce that the photography works are moving to a new home and will be presented at The OBA Central Library for 3 months in partnership with IHLIA - the LGBTI archive. They will be on display from May 19th until July 24th with a public performance on the 12th of June involving a Q&A with my drag parents and performances by The House of Løstbois.
I hope you get a chance to catch it.
