Putting Ourselves Together at BAND
Putting Ourselves Together by Jah Grey was at BAND Gallery in Toronto. This photo series captures the lives of Transwomen, drag queens, and non-binary individuals in Lagos, Nigeria. Visit: https://www.bandgallery.com/putting-ourselves-together
Jah Grey’s series, Putting Ourselves Together, explores identity and dreams. This collection of 14 photographs captures the essence of the LGBTQ2S+ community in Lagos, Nigeria. The subjects transcend imposed narratives, creating spaces that feel like home and radiate freedom.
This work challenges societal norms that often deny visibility. It serves as a powerful testament to self-construction amidst societal denial. The series celebrates the complexity of existence through poignant photographic expressions. It disregards the politics of respectability. Instead, it focuses on the pure beauty of life flourishing outside conventional acceptance. Each image asserts that self-assembly is an act of revolutionary love and bold imagination. It urges us to recognize the diverse nature of freedom and the evolving human experience beyond restrictive norms.
Set against various landscapes, both idyllic and ordinary, this project offers a haven for subjects to express their true selves. Beyond the picturesque settings, the photographs reveal underlying struggles and dangers. These individuals face hostility while challenging societal norms. The careful composition of each image highlights the deep-seated beliefs that label the sitters as threats to the established social order.
Jah Grey, a Black Queer Autistic artist of Trans experience, highlights the lives of Transwomen, drag queens, and non-binary individuals. They navigate a society that questions their very existence. The exhibition honors figures like Fola Francis, a pioneer for transgender and non-binary rights in Nigeria. Her activism and bravery continue to inspire despite her passing in December 2023.
Jah Grey’s work showcases the growing acceptance of the LGBTQ2S+ community. They strive for freedom in their own spaces despite Nigeria’s stringent anti-LGBT laws, including the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill. This law bans same-sex marriage and criminalizes same-sex relationships and LGBTQ2S+ organizations.
Putting Ourselves Together captures the spirit of liberation. It pays tribute to those who carve out spaces of freedom through their very existence.