Alien bodybuilders between queer identity and extravagance

AtSpazio Maiocchi in Milan we met Alien , artist, DJ and part of the queer transfeminist platform TOMBOYS DON'T CRY , during the presentation of “ Bodybuilders ”, an installation that introduced the homonymous photographic project aimed at investigating the themes of identity, extravagance and new means of self-expression , documenting 30 of the most interesting performers in the United Kingdom. Identity and extravagance: the book is a cross between visual and performing arts, gender studies, activism and critical reflection. Two texts introduce the work, one by Helen Hester, author of the Xenofeminist manifesto and one by the founder of the London queer night “Inferno”, Lewis G. Burton. Alien's photography explores the themes of queerness and everyday life through a genuine and direct approach to photography: every subject is treated with the same gaze.

OFFICIEL ITALIA: Where did the idea for this project come from?
ALIEN: The project stems from the desire to pay homage and stop over time a community of creativity that belongs to a scene considered to be a niche, because it is alternative and because it is queer. I am close to these people, they are part of my community, they are all very young and very present on social networks and during the pandemic I felt the desire, and perhaps a little even the need, to photograph them and represent them on a physical format, such as film and print media, a medium that has the power to remain over time and regardless of the algorithm, and reach, even casually, insiders and outsiders of the community.

LOI: Do you like to think that this photographic project is also perceived as a politically active project for what it shows and says? And how important is the political sphere (in the broadest sense of the political term, "for society") in your work?
A: Everything we do is political, language is political and so is art. I am sure that this project has an active role in promoting not only an artistic sensitivity, but also a positive, proactive and non-stereotyped affirmation of a very broad topic such as identity politics. Bodybuilders was born precisely to give an alternative look at an often binary and commercial practice and it is political from the beginning: cis women, trans and non-binary people are represented who actively take part in the scene, on a stage and in everyday life. , dismantling gender stereotypes. In this sense I like to think that in addition to the commitment that I carry on with the transfeminist queer platform TOMBOYS DON'T CRY of which I am part, even with Bodybuilders I was able to give this performer a metaphorical stage and different from that of social networks, to exist. and resist.