Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Hijras of Mumbai - Photo exhibition

http://www.transgenderfilmfestival.com

From 18th till 28th, May 2007, A photoseries by Anita Khemka (New Delhi, 1972) was shown at the Lloyd Hotel in Amsterdam in light of the 4th edition of the Netherlands Transgender Filmfestival. The photo's were taken during the shooting of the documentary Between the Lines: India's Third Gender featuring three the lives of three Hijras and Anita's interactions with them as a female photographer, which was screened at the festival as well. Not overly dramatic, neither casual, Both the film and the photos give provide an interesting look at the lives these Hijras. Meeting Anita and Laxmi (one of the Hijra featured in the film) was amazing. Both are very strong people, sharing and interesting friendship. I admire both of them for their creativity, their strength and courage.




Anita Khemka has worked as a documentary photographer for organisations like Unicef and UNAIDS with a focus on the position of women and sexual minorities in India. Khemka’s photographs are rooted in her experience as a woman, and her interest in how sex occupies a major part of people’s lives. Khemka is drawn to eunuchs and prostitutes whom she follows for years to film these intimate portraits.

Sex Work and Human Rights report - Asia and the Pacific

http://www.apnsw.org

A report by the Asia-Pacific Network of Sex Workers (APNSW) from a meeting organised by the Sex Workers Health and Rights Project (SHARP) and the Open Society Institute in March 2007 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Little swing...

Once upon a time in a land far far... More specifically June 2005 in South-Korea. I wrote this during my first trip their, for someone who's nickname just lingered on in my head. Maybe cause she was so kind to get me in a cab and pay for it when I was so drunk that I couldn't stand up. This poem is not her, it's only a tribute...

- Jun 4th, 2005 Seoul -

그네...

A swing on a playground
moves by wind and rain
it swings forth
but not back...

A girl once played
with a swing
on a playground
her footsteps are kept
frozen in the sand

A swing on a playground
pretending it swings
by the movement of a girl
that left long ago

That swing
on this playground
by wind and rain
it still swings
and plays
waiting for another girl

Monday, May 21, 2007

Empty Space...

I decided to post some of my old poems on here, since my old webbie is down. Hope anyone who reads is finds it nice.

- May 9th, 2006 Amsterdam -



Empty, filling up
half full and empty
a space is filled up

Empty, it feels
this space, looking at me
with eyes from walls so white
and air as hands, touching
and feeling, as empty
as ever...

Filled up,
half empty, yet so full
this space as life
so indecisive
and so true



A Korean artist friend of mine, Sanghee, used this poem in one of her
projects: "evening primrose" [달맞이꽃 / 夜來香] she did in the red light district in
Amsterdam. She gathered poetry from sex workers all over the world and projected
it on the streets and in the old church in the middle of the district at
night.



Tuesday, May 15, 2007

4th Netherlands Transgender Film Festival

www.transgenderfilmfestival.com

May 23 - 27, 2007. De Balie, Amsterdam

T-Image Foundation organises the 4th edition of the bi-annual Netherlands Transgender Film. This year's festival broadens its expected programming of cutting edge films to highlight other arts forms like photography, music, spoken word and live performance. Also this year there are two performances from veteran cultural agitators: the stand up comedy One Freak Show from Lynnee Breedlove that will open the festival and Kate Bornstein: On Men, Women and the Rest of Us from America's most wanted speaker on gender issues and theories Kate Bornstein will close the festival.

The programs range from the serious - such as a discussion of what needs to be done to secure civil rights for transgender people whether in prison or on the street in Get My Gender Right(s)! - to the timely - such as a consideration of how different generations of transpeople create images of themselves in Image Generation.

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

Parting...




A car drove by
a train as well
they ran into each other
maybe
someday they'll part again

Railroad sorrow
and backseat pain
turned around, collapsed
into each other they cry

Car and train, sorrow and pain
tears of joy, and smiling...
they ran into each other
maybe
someday they'll part again