Lena Boretzki, (non)binary, 2012, 20 x 30 cm, digital photography
The binary gender system that dominates our society to a large extent is characterized by an almost compulsory categorization of humans into female and male. How does society react when this binary system is rejected? What happens when a person does not feel that they belong exclusively to the male or female gender, or when they do not want to conform to these norms?
Gender identities are very diverse and fluid. However, when a person´s gender identity goes beyond these social norms, discrimination often becomes a serious threat.
B. cannot and does not want to submit to this binary system. The apparent bisection of B.’s face is not the result of photo editing. Instead, B. shaved one half of their face and put makeup on the other half. Their hairstyle is intended to create various effects, in these photos as in everyday life. The strict bisection of B.’s face aims to irritate, their direct stare wants to provoke and criticize the binary gender system. B.’s confidence encourages the viewer not to let gender norms limit them in their self expression, but to get to know themselves, experiment with gender identity and expression and to encounter themselves and everyone else with openness.