This series of photographs is part of the ongoing project Queers of the Beautiful Horizon, which portrays non-binary, cross-dressing and trans people in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
The photographs below portray Ed Marte, a non-binary artist and queer activist who lives and works in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais.
Five photographs from this series were exhibited at the Brazilian Embassy in London alongside the work of 30 artists shortlisted for the VIA Arts Prize, between 14 December and 31 January.
Who’s Ed Marte? Defiance, Gentleness and Gender Fluidity
Ed’s defiant yet gentle personality plays a central role in the community space he created in the favela near his home. The centre showcases the work of local trans artists and welcomes members of the community to spend time together, exchange experiences and engage more openly with questions surrounding gender diversity. The community space created by Ed is called Rosa de Marte and is located in Vila Nossa Senhora Aparecida, in São Lucas, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, where all the above photographs were taken.
Creating safe spaces where trans people can exist without having to hide an important part of who they are is especially significant in a country like Brazil, where violence against LGBT+ people has historically been a chronic issue. In 2017, one LGBT+ person was killed every 19 hours in Brazil as a result of homophobic violence.
Art, Activism and Life Intertwined
I also photographed Ed at home in Belo Horizonte (“Beautiful Horizon”), one of Brazil’s largest cities and the place that gives this series its name.
Ed is proud that there is no separation between his life, art and politics. His activism is inseparable from his artistic practice, and he quite literally lives amongst it. Personal objects, clothing and artworks all play an important role in his self-expression and sense of identity.
I cannot overstate the importance of Ed’s life, work and activism. By being visibly non-binary and helping promote the work of other trans artists, Ed plays an important role in Brazil’s much-needed transformation in the understanding of gender diversity.
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