Sara Way or Sway as she is known is a queer femme photographer whose work explores sexuality, gender and desire across cultural and international boundaries.
I have written about Sway before, in the context of a group show. Now, however she is showing solo, touring the West Coast with a fab sounding book of new images. The book is titled QUEEROGRAPHY: Intimate Expressions of Queer Culture Tokyo, Bangkok and Hong Kong. A short exhibition, complete with reception, book signing and an artist’s talk will be held at Bamboo Lounge in Hillcrest this coming weekend.
Sway’s brand of queer photography is broad, it includes LGBT, drag, fetish, performance, sexwork, genderqueer and anyone else who feels limited by society’s binary norms – whether they know they are or not. QUEEROGRAPHY, (her book) however, takes us pretty far; from your pedestrian Kansas-style of genderqueer. The book explores and depicts an assortment of scenes from fetish culture and kinky love hotels in Tokyo to the glittery drag clubs and pride parades of Hong Kong.
Sway’s book aims to reflect what sounds like a mesmerizing journey through queer culture in Asia. Here’s the backstory: In 2012, Sway set off to Tokyo to capture the unique and vibrant faces of the global LGBTQ community. She spent six months exploring, photographing, sharing stories and connecting with her subjects, first in Tokyo, then Bangkok, and finally Hong Kong.
Sway loves to connect and collaborate with her subjects, embracing their individuality and empowering them to expose their authentic selves. Her intention is to create images that allow the viewer to connect and interact with the subject’s vulnerability. She hopes that by doing this she will free any one of the rest of us to explore and embrace our own unique identity.
Check out her show and ask a few questions. You may begin to unearth a queerer hidden you.
Reception and artist talk at Bamboo Lounge Saturday, March 15, 6-7p.m.
