EL HOGG
In spaces I feel safe and seen for who I am, I’m able to experiment. I’m less afraid to wear clothes traditionally considered as feminine as a trans man, it brought back my love for fashion. For those that don’t get it, confuse them! Confuse the Terfs, why the h(EL)l not.
Marte Gastaldello: Your photographs pay homage to individuals attending parties in London’s queer rave scene. Through your lens we are able to grasp the sincerity of such environments, where people are truly expressing themselves and their gender. What do you like the most about these spaces? Craziest event you’ve ever taken a picture of?
El Hogg: I think what I love about the queer scene / spaces is when I think I’ve seen it all, something beautiful happens. Spaces allowing freedom of expression are full of surprises, it’s ever changing. It keeps me exited and engaged, like a hunt for what’s c*nt.
As Trans+ people we need spaces to come together and celebrate who we are more than ever, there’s a certain feeling of love, passion, joy and togetherness that happens sometimes that I could never explain to someone that wasn’t there but it’s really sick.
As for the craziest events I’ve photographed, Inferno with Fecal Matter was a dream, the crowd was going nuts, Monster Queen on Halloween is always a slay or a Riposte Summer day rave. Shooting 100 gecs at the O2 was epic for me as well, whenever I get to document something I’ve been following for a while it’s always quite surreal. I’ve worked on some really exiting projects but working with London Trans+ Pride will always be a favourite of mine and an honour. I think events/ parties that give back to the community offer something really special.
MG: You make portraits that investigate how Trans* and Non Binary* identities are expressed directly on the body. And, at the same time, your gaze often lands on super brilliant looks. As Trans* people, I believe a crucial moment for us is experimenting and playing with our appearance. What do you think is the role of fashion in the establishing of one’s gender identity and expression? Is this something that inspires you personally as well?
EH: I don’t think I focus on peoples body’s, rather peoples energy, creativity and gender expression. I work collaboratively with the subjects in my images. The way I shoot has evolved a lot, I will definitely bring some creative direction to the table and play with the environment around me when shooting at a rave. It’s almost like a mini shoot, having 1 on 1 time with the subject, I want people to feel beautiful and capture that moment in time.
The looks people bring GIVE. It keeps me inspired, it’s fun. I love taking fashion risks, it’s memes. I love being camp. In spaces I feel safe and seen for who I am, I’m able to experiment. I’m less afraid to wear clothes traditionally considered as feminine as a trans man, it brought back my love for fashion.
For those that don’t get it, confuse them! Confuse the Terfs, why the h(EL)l not.
MG: Looking at your works, I see an echo of the early Club Kids pictures from the 80s in New York. We have talked about your choice of subjects, now I want to know where your visual vocabulary comes from. Any artist or art piece that has inspired you throughout your artistic career? Were other pieces of media important for the development of your own style, or did it come from something else?
EH: I think because the way I fell into photography was quite unexpected, there isn’t a work that triggered me initially. My practice is more of a documentation than creative work, it just so happens the queers are the creatives, it’s how our brains work. Having said that, I do love the work of Fruits Mag, zerocoolarchieve, Hysterical Fashion and other fashion archives.
MG: It feels like you are building an archive of possibilities of self expression, a catalog of ways of inhabiting the body through gender. Is this coming from some kind of subjective need?
EH: I think I’m just obsessed with what I do, I don’t want to miss out on anything. I love that I feel trusted by my peers/ the community to capture them and give them a photo they can cherish, or a moment to feel themselves. Trans+ people deserve to exist, to live happy lives, and should be celebrated.
