Lynne Anderson (Ottawa, Canada) Trans Series, Photograph 2007
Lynne Anderson (Ottawa, Canada), Kelly, Trans Series, Inkjet Print, signed, 24 x 24 inches, 2007, $350 unframed
Artist Statement:
“Part of a series I shot of transgender women for an exhibit entitled “Female”. Work exclusively by female photographers in the Ottawa, Ontario, Canada area.
We were given only the exhibition title to inspire us.
“Female”.
I pondered what the word meant to me. A bit vague, really. So many possible ways to interpret it visually. Was it a noun? A verb, maybe? Should there be softness? Strength? Knowing I wanted to shoot a portrait, I began to work down the list of women I knew in my head. Which woman represented “Female” to me? Who was purposefully living her life in a “Female” way? It didn’t take me long to figure out who that woman was. Ashley, a transgender friend. I couldn’t think of another woman in my life who was working harder every day to find out what being “Female” meant to her. For Ashley, it was, most definitely, a verb. A deliberate action.
When I approached her about the portrait, she was thrilled and flattered, but had to decline for personal reasons. I was disappointed but, of course, understood, and asked her if she knew anyone else who might sit for me. She quickly put me in touch with Gender Mosaic, Canada’s biggest and oldest transgender social and support group. I sent an email explaining the project and asked if anyone would want to participate. Within an hour, I had twenty volunteers. Not long after, I was in the studio with four of them. One of the ladies had brought a CD player. The music blared. Everyone danced. Laughter echoed in the open room. There were countless costume and wig changes, and more sequins than I’ve ever seen in my life. Each woman, bathed in Rembrandt-esque light, took her turn on the stool and allowed me into their personal space. The artist inside me was drunk with happiness at what I was seeing through the lens of my Hasselblad. There could never be enough film. I blew through everything I had in no time. Shutter clicking. Lights flashing. I could have shot a hundred rolls of film that night. They were the epitome of beauty and vulnerability, paired with confidence and fierceness. I adored every minute of that photo shoot, and couldn’t wait to get into the darkroom. What started out as one photo shoot turned into two, and a series of portraits that I am extremely proud to have been allowed to be a part of. It was one of the greater honours of my life.
And it was all so very Female”. – Lynne Anderson, 2007