The exhibition Queer and Autistic by Eva Ágústa opens at Reykjavik Museum of Photography (Ljósmyndasafn Reykjavíkur), on Reykjavík Culture Night, August 24th at 17:00-20:00. The exhibition Queer and Autistic is a collection of photographs of queer individuals on the autism spectrum, with or without an official diagnosis.
„I want to show people the diversity of society and to show that there is a group of people, which is bigger than people suspect, many of whom feel that they are misunderstood, neglected, ignored and not given the opportunity to be themselves,“ says Eva Ágústa about the upcoming exhibition.
Eva Ágústa herself is trans and on the autism spectrum and has for the last few years focused on telling people’s stories from her own perspective as a photographer.
Does she see a connection, or a shared experience, between these two groups?
„The connection I see between these two groups is how people on the spectrum do not feel like the idea of what is normal and what is not applies to them,“ she replies.
„People who are both queer and autistic see themselves and experience themselves more outside the box.
Which is remarkable in light of the fact that people who are not autistic say we are stuck in a box. Which then is a bit funny because some of those same people say that there are only two sexes – and if that is not being stuck in a box, then I don’t know what is.“
There is a group of people, which is bigger than people suspect, many of whom feel that they are misunderstood, neglected, ignored and not given the opportunity to be themselves.
The exhibition is Eva’s attempt to make people belonging to these two groups more visible, since they tend to be overlooked in society, becoming as Eva puts it „invisible“.
„Individuals who are queer and identify themselves or are diagnosed on the autism spectrum are not visible in general, and I wanted to do a project that was about increasing visibility and educating people about this group,“ she says, adding that is really how the idea for the exhibition came about.
The connection I see between these two groups is how people on the spectrum do not feel like the idea of what is normal and what is not applies to them.
According to Eva Ágústa autistic people are often outsiders due to the way they sense their surroundings. Being someone who, from a young age, has observed how non-autistic people behave in society, and based on that, has tried to change her behavior in order to fit in better with society, Eva uses that unconventional perception to her advantage in her photography today.
But how did Eva Ágústa choose the subjects for the exhibition?
„I simply posted an ad on the Facebook-groups Hinseginspjallið and Skynsegin,“ she says, „and people applied.“
The way Eva worked on the project was that she got to know her subjects on a personal level and from there she photographed the people in the environment where they are most comfortable. In the photos Eva mixes natural light and additional lighting to create the person that she sees, and the individuals agree upon. You can really hear how excited she is to share the outcome.
„Yes, I’m just very excited to host a photography exhibition that is important for the visibility of this group,“ she says and it is clear, how much the project means to her, not only on a professional level, but a personal level as well.
Queer and Autistic by Eva Ágústa opens at Reykjavik Museum of Photography (Ljósmyndasafn Reykjavíkur), Tryggvagata 15, on Reykjavík Culture Night, August 24th at 17:00-20:00.
The exhibition is accessible for a neurodiverse audience.
Free admission. Everyone is welcome. More info here.