William Snyder An intimate look at someone struggling with their identity. Not a posed moment in the lot.
The art of drag is becoming a bigger part of mainstream culture, with tv shows and specials highlighting drag celebrities and a manufactured reality of what drag is. Throughout this project I wanted to strip back this idea of glamour, and show the raw reality of what drag is outside of the representation currently being showcased. I wanted to put emphasis on Fifi’s creative process and transformation from Fifi the person to Fifi the drag artist, as well as capturing her topical performances, and how she expresses herself through her form of drag.
“Drag is all about personal freedom and empowerment; with drag you can do whatever you want, you can dress however you want, and at the end of the day, just take it all off. It’s therapeutic. it’s artistic. It’s reclaiming control over yourself and your feelings; these feelings are acknowledged, embraced and then poured into a performance.”
The art of drag is becoming a bigger part of mainstream culture, with tv shows and specials highlighting drag celebrities and a manufactured reality of what drag is. Stories told during a drag performance can be funny, political or even unnerving. Pop culture is the ingredient that blends it all together and makes it more digestible like sugar on the rim of a glass.
Throughout this project I wanted to strip back this idea of glamour, and show the raw reality of what drag is outside of the representation currently being showcased. I wanted to put emphasis on Fifi’s creative process and transformation from Fifi the person to Fifi the drag artist, as well as capturing her topical performances, and how she expresses herself through her form of drag
While working in a central London restaurant my interest in documentary style photography was peaking, it was also then I met Fifi, a budding drag artist about to make her debut on stage.
This project felt like it needed to happen. It was the perfect match between two people who were at the starting point of exploring something new. We found comfort? in each other,? both eager to experiment with new art forms, free from judgment or pressure.
The evolution of our relationship from being just colleagues, to becoming friends and supporters of our personal discovery gave this project its authenticity.
These pictures have been chosen because of the realness and vulnerability conveyed ?under t?he surface made of fake eyelashes, wigs and glitter.
This was only made possible thanks to the intimate access that Fifi granted me into her life.