Nov 27, 20171 min read

An African Punk Photo Series Exploring Femme Power, Gender Fluidity And the Spirit of Rebellion

"Fashion plays a pivotal part in the way we represent ourselves and the relationship with the established power relations we navigate within society. We embody feminine energy and confront gender structures that police our beings. Living honestly and authentically is a quality we constantly and vehemently uphold, especially as bodies that regularly face prejudice, catcalling, homophobia, and judgment from society. Through our semiotics choices, we aim to break the borders we’re boxed and in, write our own narrative and represent ourselves directly."

Shot by Alix-Rose Cowie a freelance editor, writer, and photographer based in Cape Town.

The African Punk photo series is created in collaboration with Duduza Mchunu, Yonela Makoba , Andrea Kloppers and Luvuyo Equiano Nyawose.

Andrea Kloppers and Luvuyo Equiano Nyawose both conceptualised and modeled the series.

Andrea Kloppers is a professional fashion and film stylist, makeup artist and creative director. She is the winner of Bokeh Fashion film, best emerging talent 2016, for fashion film SHE.

Luvuyo Equiano Nyawose is a filmmaker, photographer and performance artist based in Cape Town. Through visual engagement, he aims to confront audiences with issues such homophobia, inequality, afro-phobia, intersectional feminism by using the mediums film, photography and performance art to effect positive change.

The photo series is styled by final year Michaelis School of Fine Art scholar Duduza Mchunu alongside artist Yonela Makoba whose body of work is inspired and informed by the lives and experiences of marginalized bodies in our society.