nu-gender

This AHRC funded research project addresses the differences between hormonal and surgical changes in transsexual transformations; how the stages of transition from female-to-male and male-to-female could be visually represented; how personal experiences of the body in transition could be communicated to others; and if it is appropriate to define transsexual identities within the female/male binary categories or rather whether they constitute a space beyond the polarities. The photographic outcomes of this research include a solo exhibition of photographs at the APT Gallery in London in 2003, entitled ‘nu-gender’ and the publication of a photo-essay in 2004, entitled ‘trans agenda: transsexual portraits’, comprising eight colour photographs in the photography journal ‘Source’ (UK and Ireland).

The methodology employed recorded interviews and photographs, combining fine art and documentary photographic approaches with ethnography. Depicting transsexual people in stages of transition, from female-to-male and male-to-female through the use of opposite-sex hormones and in some instances surgery, the underlying aim of this work was to convey the body as it is experienced by the subject, through the use of large-scale images and the isolation of the subjects within the image frame. This extends standard documentary methods by using a fine art approach to photography in order to represent the subject's perspective. Through its approach to the use of scale and direct experience in order to bridge the gap between transsexual and non-transsexual people the work generated greater understanding and new knowledge in the field. A key aspect of this work is that it explores female-to-male, as well as male-to-female transsexual experiences. Supported by Wimbledon School of Art, Lewisham Council and the APT Trust, three public talks were given to coincide with the exhibition by two of the participants in the project and by Davidmann on the research methodology and aims of the work.