‘Germaine IX’, in series of IX, Michael Meyersfeld
on being SEEN, not stared at
A call to trans (transgender, gender non-conforming and gender-diverse) people living in South Africa to participate in photographic essay project & exhibition by award-winning South African photographer, Michael Meyersfeld
Michael Meyersfeld is an award-winning South African fine art photographer, and author of “Gaze” | Website – www.meyersfeld.com | Facebook – Michael Meyersfeld Photographer | Instagram – @michaelmeyersfeld
The Evolution of the Project:
Michael approached me to create portraits of me. “Panic” was an understatement. “Opportunity of a lifetime” turned out to be an understatement as well. I had never met Michael and only knew of his legendary status as a photographer. The final photographs (these are 4 from a series of 9) speak for themselves.
‘Germaine I’, in series of IX, Michael Meyersfeld
‘Germaine IV’, in series of IX, Michael Meyersfeld
‘Germaine VIII’, in series of IX, Michael Meyersfeld
‘Germaine IX’, in series of IX, Michael Meyersfeld
But I have tried to put the beyond words into words: my wildest expectations were beyond exceeded, and despite my huge anxiety, the humbling and affirming experience and resulting photographs left me with a feeling of being SEEN, NOT stared at. (I wrote a poem about this experience a few hours after the shoot, and have included it at the end).
I am a non-binary trans person who has photographically documented my own and other trans people’s journeys in order to create visibility. I am aware that this is not enough. It is my strong belief that cisgender people have the responsibility to educate other cis people in order to begin, more seriously, the process of accepting the trans communities. Because we in those communities cannot and should not have to bear the burden of creating a society that SEES us, unconditionally accepts us, not only listens to but hears us; thus opening the door wider for the basic human rights that we do not currently have access to.
I endorse this project and Michael 100%, without any reservations: his sincere respectfulness, sensitivity and awareness of his cisgender privilege were evident within the first 5 minutes of our interaction in person, and have continued to become even more evident the more I interact with him. I have thus agreed to Michael’s request to reach out to the trans communities to encourage participation in his project and exhibition. – Germaine S. Gabriel S. de Larch
Please continue reading, consider participating and please share widely.
Michael’s Inspiration Behind & Motivation for the Project & Exhibition:
CLGBTQIA+ Cisgender, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual, and other genders and sexual orientations (+)
“(The working title of my proposed photographic essay).
“The idea was initiated by my wife Saranne’s Masters research, which explores the process of transition that parents go through when their child comes out as transgender. Her research was inspired by her own relationship with her two children who, as she puts it, “happen to be gay”. I became conscious of the thought that, within the complicated landscape of gender identity, gender expression, the fluid complexity of gender and sexual orientation, all of humankind just wants the same thing: to belong, to be loved, to be connected. And to be relevant (hence the pointed inclusion of C for Cisgender in the title, rather than A for Allies).
“So, the door has been opened by my wife, her research and my step-children. But because I am aware that I know significantly less about trans and gender issues and lived reality, I am cognisant of the sensitivities, and thus a bit nervous. So, very, very simply, I want to collaborate with people from the trans and gender-diverse communities in making a series of emotive images for a photographic exhibition that will not represent, but endeavour to encompass this complex landscape; woven together with an underlying narrative of voices speaking of belonging, love and the hope of connection.”
– Michael
How to Participate & How the Process will Work
1. Contact:
Michael directly – meyersfeld@icon.co.za / 082 557 0666 (phone or SMS, not WhatsApp)
2. The Meeting:
a) Michael and Benson (Michael’s incredibly wonderful assistant) will set up a meeting with you at your home or safe space to
– get to know you as a person,
– discuss how you see yourself, and
– what you want the image of you to say about you.
b) He will then walk around your home or safe space with you and negotiate with you where he will set up the camera and lighting to get the best image of you based on the above discussion with you, but also based on his experience of the space that will make the best image.
c) He will discuss the project in more detail and answer any questions or concerns you have.
d) He will then set up a date and time convenient for you for the shoot.
3. The Shoot:
a) Will take place at your home or safe space.
b) Will not take more than two hours.
c) Based on the discussion at the meeting, but also based on how you feel the day of the shoot, you will show Michael your wardrobe options and he’ll negotiate with you based on his experience of what will work best in black and white photographs.
d) Benson will move any furniture that needs to be moved and set up the lighting, and will also put all this furniture back after the shoot.
e) Michael will go through the images with you right there and then and finalise 2–4 images that YOU are happy with.
4. The Photographs:
He will edit these finalised photographs and send them to you via email, SMS or WhatsApp and YOU will choose the final (only one) image to be used for the exhibition.
5. Important Ethical Issues to Ensure Your Safety & Comfort at All Times:
a) You will be asked to sign a Model Release Form (standard practice) and Michael will ONLY use the photograph as agreed to in the form.
b) Any other or future use of the photograph as part of this or another project/exhibition will be discussed with you and only used if you agree to the use of the photograph.
c) You are free to pull out of the project at any point, even after signing the release form.
If you are interested, please contact Michael directly – meyersfeld@icon.co.za or 082 557 0666 (phone call or SMS, not WhatsApp), or please share widely.
Thank you! – Germaine and Michael
The Poem: My Response to & Feelings After Michael’s Shoot with Me
on being SEEN, not stared at –12 May 2017
My within-hours response to the portrait session with MMM (Mr Michael Meyersfeld);
2 months and 2 days after my re-birthday – top surgery anniversary; 3 days before my 40th re-birthday
I just want you two,
my favourite Meyersfelds –
The Kindness of Strangers epitomised –
& All The World,
to know:
the relief…
of the lifting of the burden off my chest
of my chest being seen
(of ME being SEEN)
by someone other than me
(through cupped hands that continue to less haltingly lower themselves),
a handful of friends,
The Medical Industry,
The Psychiatric Industry,
&
their respective Entourages
the relief…
of letting go of [my] body
AND
claiming it as mine,
at the same time,
through the process of being shot –
which was & is part of the lifelong process
of being me,
me being Human,
human Being beyond trans
the relief…
represented
by the process to come
(without ever arriving)
of entering THESE images of [me]
into the ether
the relief…
because images can be & mostly are mis-re-presentations
of trans body
as trans Freak,
BUT
THESE images,
THESE re-presentations are
a clear & dangerous presence,
a backlit sign
of the co-creation of a
mutually-respectful dialogue
– a present –
that will crack open
the Diatribe on Otherness &
germinate in its chasm a
Dialogue(s) of Celebrating Difference*
(*Difference:
the em-body-ment
and dis-embody-ment
of being human being)
- the relief…
in the act of letting go of &
em-body-ing the confidence
(formerly known as CON-fidence)
beneath the layers of Dis-Ease;
leaving in its wake an
elusivecalmcentredness
in the midst of the storm
that is my life…
this relief…
has manifested itself already…
I just now…
not “just”,
nourished my body
for the first time in months;
for the first time
since
my
nervousbodybreakdown
I just now…
not “just”,
cooked for my self;
solid food,
rather than fast-breaking lunch protein shake
stretched fo(u)r hours
between
chains of cigarette smoke –
a solidsubstantialness
I feel,
not just take to do notes about
in therapy or on my blog;
a nourishing of my self
that substantial-ly em-body-s
a nourishing of all of my self,
&
all of my selves;
a nourishing of my self
emboldened & unleashed by this being seen today…
an emboldened unleashing
because the knowing that was there
that
I am less
&
less
no longer “just”
a violated body,
a violated by
The Gaze
trans (no)body
has been affirmed, confirmed, heard, seen
I am my body, and not
I am so much more
I am beyond/across/trans gender
I contain multitudes
I am more than the sum of my parts
I am legion
I am an onion
I am beautiful
Thank YOU, MMM,
thank you to Benson, mfwethu wami,
for enabling & holding the space;
thank you Dearest Annie (Saranne),
my sib from another crib,
for The Introductions,
on so many levels; &
thank you to my self(ves)
for being vulnerablybravelypresent;
&,
above all,
thank you Art as Story-Teller
for Beauty: Human Connection in an Inhuman(e) World.
– Germaine S. Gabriel S. de Larch
life writ large 