WorldPride Portraits

Justin and I have made several photographs together over the years, often in costume and as a process to develop or document Justin’s various characters and performance works. For this portrait I was keen to capture them in a state that sits in-between the artist and the performer/character. We both had the simultaneous notion to photograph within a rockpool environment –it is as though they are emerging out of the wetness, in-between wet and dry, water and land.

For this image of the artists/designers Nicol and Ford we wanted to make a portrait that was not only about their creative process but also their relationship with the body, community and each other.

Our concept for this portrait contrasts the idealised bodies of ancient sculptures with our community's ability to celebrate, alter and construct themselves, enjoying the privileges of expression afforded to our generation thanks to those who came before us.

Our sculptural, phallic-inflected hair was inspired by the erotic drawings of Henry Fuseli (1741-1825), who sketched coded sexualised depictions of his wife Sofia in domestic settings. Our ability to celebrate and empower ourselves and our community through our work is our greatest joy, placing the diversity of our communities on pedestals to be adored and venerated.

Renè and I met at his apartment in Waterloo late in the afternoon. I felt instantly at home with him and his beautiful, generous and lovely nature as he gave me a tour of his vast archive of amazing costumes.

His home is where everything is kept now since moving out of his studio during the pandemic – it is absolutely his safe and happy place.

As we pulled out glittery capes, decorative hats, jewelled and layered collars it became apparent to me that Renè be photographed in a regal way. He is indeed the King of Costume. Despite the skies threatening to rain, we ventured across the road to the oval. Renè happily posed and laughed along with me, the local neighbours and many visiting dogs. It might have drizzled a little, but it never really felt that way.

I have known Nikita for most of my adult life: we have spent much time together playing, photographing, and creating together.

Nikita responded she felt most at ease creatively in her new home in the Blue Mountains, and as I hadn’t visited her here yet I jumped at this opportunity to capture her in her new environment.

Nikita and I set out to create two tableaux that reflect the two sides to her personality and practice. Always pushing the boundaries of jewellery and the object, and intersecting with the provocative, political, and pop, we see Nikita in her living room in a more thoughtful and determined mode and then playfully posing for the camera in this more intimate and spirited bedroom portrait.

Pete and Scott are animators, illustrators, and boyfriends. They make queer video games that are full of joy, humour and meaning.

Pete explained to me they spend every morning at Camperdown Park drinking their coffee and chatting about what they are working on. This morning walking and talking ritual often finds them standing in the middle of the big empty basketball courts:

‘In winter we looked ridiculous in our big faux-fur coats and colourful pants… in a basketball court. I feel like that sums us up nicely, scruffy in big f*ggy coats, happily looking kind of awkward.’

Norrie is a passionate advocate for public housing and as such they wanted to be photographed at home in the Waterloo public housing estate where they feel most relaxed and at home.

The estate had been slated for impending demolition by the State/Lib government, and therefore Norrie felt this environment as a backdrop would also hold some archival significance.

Matthew and Maurice make work that is interactional, playful, and fun while informing and engaging the audience with themes of social inclusion and cultural diversity.

For their portrait Matthew and Maurice had the interim test model for their Absolutely Queer installation available to inflate within their studio… it literally reached the ceiling of their two-story warehouse!

The final artwork for the exhibition is a seven-metre-tall inflatable archway and tells the story of how protest and fabulousness collided together to radically evolve human rights in Australia.

When I asked Sexy Galexy where they felt their creativity best resonated with a space or context they responded with, ‘I love Sydney Harbour, every time you see it, it’s always awe inspiring’. So, Sydney Harbour it was!

Galexy truly dazzled in Neptune-like tones and sequins, and we had quite a few passers-by come over and ask all about shoot. Sexy Galexy explained their practice so eloquently and generously to people who had never heard of a drag king before: ‘I’m-a-more-of-a-woman-when-I’m-a-man Man.’

Dennis met me at Molineaux Point, Botany Bay. From this lookout you can see the heads Cook sailed past in 1770 and the landing place.

In a reclamation of land and country, Golding, a Kamilaroi/Gamilaraay artist, returns to this location for his art practice, drawing inspiration from his own experiences living in urban environments and through childhood memories.

Dennis explained to me this peninsula of La Perouse was also where his family moved to after leaving The Block in Redfern, where he had the best memories of his Nan’s place.

In this portrait Dennis is wearing one of the beautiful capes he designed to coincide with his installation in this show. He looks like a superhero because he is one.