Queer Art Magazine 'Container Love' Takes Over Weekday in Europe
“Queer presentation has been defined by what was palatable to the heteronormative society for too long,” says photographer Soraya T. Zaman.
Berlin-based queer art magazine Container Love is set to take over Weekday this summer with an all-new exhibition and T-shirt collection. Titled “#VisibleLove,” the exhibition features works from renowned photographers that seek to promote the duality of human existence through the queer gaze.
The exhibition will be displayed in select Weekday stores across Europe, showcasing a series of photography in the windows and installations inside the stores, with each piece depicting a different form of the queer identity. Supporting the physical exhibition is an online version on Container Love‘s website, featuring further interviews with the artists in a bid to promote equal representation. Contributing artists include Lindsey Ryklief, Jess T. Dugan, Rob Tennent, Allie + Jen, Soraya T. Zaman and Leo Maki.
A key focus for the exhibitions is the work of Australian photographer Soraya T. Zaman. Based in New York, Zaman’s work explores themes of gender identity with a focus on the lived experience of trans people. Their latest work is American Boys, a project that offers an intimate look at the experiences of the trans-masculine community in the U.S.
“Queer presentation has been defined by what was palatable to the heteronormative society for too long. Yes, there’s been a shift but then at the same time in America, there is also a huge pushback now. Texas is trying to ban minors from seeing drag queens, while in Florida you can’t use the word gay in schools. Yet within the queer community, especially in New York, I think we are reaching a tipping point where anything goes now and that is wonderful,” says Soraya T. Zaman, one of the contributing photographers in a press release.
Container Love‘s Creative Director and Founder Christian Ruess adds “Visibility is a gateway to addressing equal rights. The more queer people are seen and represented, the less criminalized our bodies become. With “#VisibleLove” we’re not only showing the bodies but also telling the stories – we’re ready to talk.”
Alongside the exhibition, Container Love has created a series of eight T-shirts featuring prints of the contributing artists’ work. Proceeds will be donated to the showcasing artists alongside Weekday’s long-term partner Civil Rights Defenders. Posters of the artwork will also be available for purchase from Container Love‘s website. The “#VisibleLove” T-shirt collection is available now from Weekday’s website, with the exhibition set to run until July 7.
