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Life Beyond the Binary: Non-Binary Portrait Series
What does ‘non-binary’ look like? “Life Beyond the Binary”, the most recent project of riotcakes founder Darcy Quinn, explores this question. Dismayed by the lack of representation of non-binary individuals like themselves, Darcy opened up applications for non-binary people to take part in a portrait zine. The zine is filled with 30 portraits, all drawn by Darcy Quinn, to show the many faces of life outside of the binary. Each portrait is accompanied by a short bio text written by the participants themselves. This zine offers a unique perspective that depicts non-binary people authentically, in their own words, through the artistic expression of someone who shares this identity. Applications were open to anyone who identifies as part of the non-binary umbrella. Especially encouraged to apply were further marginalised identities, like people of colour, as well as people who are disabled, neurodivergent, autistic, fat, or otherwise underrepresented.
The zine was created to show that non-binary people not only exist, but that they come in all shapes and sizes, from many places, and with all kinds of interests. Darcy Quinn states about the zine that “I myself am white and very privileged because of that, which made it all the more important for me to communicate with my participants to ensure I am depicting them in a way that honours them.”
Of course no 30 portraits are ever going to be able to represent an entire community. This is just a small insight into a community severely lacking representation and positive awareness. When people do become aware of non-binary people, they are often presented with a homogeneous image of generally white, skinny, straight-shaped, able-bodied, androgynous people. But non-binary people are as diverse as humanity – there is no wrong way to ‘look’ non-binary because non-binary is not a look, it is a lived identity and experience.
The zine is available now at http://riotcakes.com and select stores. An accompanying sticker set can also be purchased to spread positive non-binary awareness.
The zine was created to show that non-binary people not only exist, but that they come in all shapes and sizes, from many places, and with all kinds of interests. Darcy Quinn states about the zine that “I myself am white and very privileged because of that, which made it all the more important for me to communicate with my participants to ensure I am depicting them in a way that honours them.”
Of course no 30 portraits are ever going to be able to represent an entire community. This is just a small insight into a community severely lacking representation and positive awareness. When people do become aware of non-binary people, they are often presented with a homogeneous image of generally white, skinny, straight-shaped, able-bodied, androgynous people. But non-binary people are as diverse as humanity – there is no wrong way to ‘look’ non-binary because non-binary is not a look, it is a lived identity and experience.
The zine is available now at http://riotcakes.com and select stores. An accompanying sticker set can also be purchased to spread positive non-binary awareness.
32 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 2018
35 people want to read
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
December 17, 2018
[English]
[En español al final]
Definitely one of my highlights of the year. Sooo glad I picked this up.
Darcy's zine explores non-binary identities in quite a diverse way featuring some stunning artwork. One of the biggest pros of its format (an illustration of the person who volunteered to be drawn + a short description of them in a colour box) is how easy it makes it for the reader to focus on the person's words. Despite the illustrations taking up most of the page, they never become distracting in any way and the brief description will still catch everyone's eye. It truly makes you want to get to know these people better and it feels like the perfect intersection of a book and an artist's portfolio.
What I especially enjoyed about this work is how many people of colour are part of it. I also loved how it brought up mental health issues and depicted older people in several different job fields −Darcy manages to show it is not only young, white, able-bodied people who identify as non-binary. In addition to that, it was interesting to see people use different sets of pronouns.
I'll definitely be coming back to this zine in the near future. I loved it to bits and the illustrations were absolutely beautiful.
5/5 stars.
......................................................................................................
Si al final acabo haciendo una lista de libros favoritos del año, este zine va a estar en ella. Pero de cabeza.
La diversidad y la interseccionalidad están presentes desde la primera página. Hay gente racializada, la salud mental y la discapacidad física entran en juego, se muestra a gente de edades y ámbitos laborales muy diferentes y se opta por pronombres diferentes entre sí, cosa que me ha parecido muy interesante.
A esto hay que añadir lo bonito de las ilustraciones y lo fácil de leer que es el formato: cada página consta de una ilustración y una breve descripción de la persona en un cuadro de color. Como todo zine, es bastante visual, pero las palabras siguen teniendo un efecto muy poderoso sin que las ilustraciones nos distraigan de lo que cada persona quiere decir sobre sí misma. No es de extrañar que, muchas veces, se acabe con la sensación de querer conocer un poco mejor a quienes aparecen en la obra.
Lo releeré una, dos, mil veces.
Cinco estrellas.
[En español al final]
Definitely one of my highlights of the year. Sooo glad I picked this up.
Darcy's zine explores non-binary identities in quite a diverse way featuring some stunning artwork. One of the biggest pros of its format (an illustration of the person who volunteered to be drawn + a short description of them in a colour box) is how easy it makes it for the reader to focus on the person's words. Despite the illustrations taking up most of the page, they never become distracting in any way and the brief description will still catch everyone's eye. It truly makes you want to get to know these people better and it feels like the perfect intersection of a book and an artist's portfolio.
What I especially enjoyed about this work is how many people of colour are part of it. I also loved how it brought up mental health issues and depicted older people in several different job fields −Darcy manages to show it is not only young, white, able-bodied people who identify as non-binary. In addition to that, it was interesting to see people use different sets of pronouns.
I'll definitely be coming back to this zine in the near future. I loved it to bits and the illustrations were absolutely beautiful.
5/5 stars.
......................................................................................................
Si al final acabo haciendo una lista de libros favoritos del año, este zine va a estar en ella. Pero de cabeza.
La diversidad y la interseccionalidad están presentes desde la primera página. Hay gente racializada, la salud mental y la discapacidad física entran en juego, se muestra a gente de edades y ámbitos laborales muy diferentes y se opta por pronombres diferentes entre sí, cosa que me ha parecido muy interesante.
A esto hay que añadir lo bonito de las ilustraciones y lo fácil de leer que es el formato: cada página consta de una ilustración y una breve descripción de la persona en un cuadro de color. Como todo zine, es bastante visual, pero las palabras siguen teniendo un efecto muy poderoso sin que las ilustraciones nos distraigan de lo que cada persona quiere decir sobre sí misma. No es de extrañar que, muchas veces, se acabe con la sensación de querer conocer un poco mejor a quienes aparecen en la obra.
Lo releeré una, dos, mil veces.
Cinco estrellas.
Displaying 1 of 1 review