Queers and Gaze is a project that explores and rebukes both male and female gaze from an asexual, non-binary perspective. In a world where so much content and art are sexualised, created by men for the viewing pleasure of men, this body of work takes a deeper dive on the sensual and focuses on natural beauty without objectification.
The subject in my body of work looks through the mirror towards the viewer, this is no act of vanity; instead, this is a challenge of self-reflection.
For centuries women have been submissive muses for male artists; posing for their visions and narratives. I believe it is time to reject the masculine perception of the female body. My project challenges the gaze, and who can consume this artwork; for too long the female body has been regulated and privatised by the elite man. I want this body of work to flip the switch on this aged way of thinking; allowing only women and nonbinary people to be privy to this work, which was created by a female bodied person, to enjoy and celebrate the freedom of the female form as it naturally is, with no digital editing or manipulation.
As a person outside of the of the gender binary and experiences no sexual attraction, I have a unique perspective on the gaze. As I do not find the human body sexually attractive, it allows me to look past preconceived or societal impacts of the gaze and embrace the human body as it is, with blemishes, body hair and cellulite proudly on show.
To challenge the gaze, it is important to show awareness of the audience’s participation in the images, this interaction invites the viewer to reflect on themselves and to think about what exactly they are looking at, and how they feel about it.
Megan Amis is a queer-nonbinary artist based in London, their work is inspired by their own gender identity and the euphoria that comes with expression, turning portrait photography into fine art.