Artist's statement: "There is an ongoing, newly reinvigorated attempt to erase the reality of queer and trans life—I want to defy it as comprehensively as I possibly can. My photography aims to record our love and joy as volatile forces, meaningfully transgressive and beheld to no external sensibilities. Tender portraits and domestic scenes are situated alongside raw pornography involving the same subjects, reminding the viewer that our existence cannot be fragmented or sterilized. In pursuing this work over the coming years, my hope is to create a long-form archive of my queer and trans community—a passionate testament against anyone who would try to deny us."

*** Rein Vilu (she/her) is a photographer and poet from Mohkinstsis/Calgary. Some of her interests include racehorse pedigrees and T4T pornography. 10 June 2025