DIVA spoke to the photographer bringing LGBTQIA stories from around the world to life through the medium of photography and videography
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY KRISTINA VARAKSINA
London-based photographer and videographer Zula Rabikowska has always focused her work on migration, identity, and LGBTQIA communities. From documenting queer love in Eastern Europe to exploring identity and womanhood in post-communist countries, Zula’s work is a testament to the power of placing LGBTQIA stories in front of the camera. In fact, some of Zula’s more recent projects have taken her closer to home, including documenting the viral opening of the new Hackney lesbian bar La Camionera.
We sat down with the photographer to find out more about her impressive portfolio, and also to ask about why documenting the LGBTQIA community is more vital now than ever.
How did you first get into photography and videography? Was there an event or moment which inspired you to pick up the camera?
Before becoming a photographer and visual artist I had what I call “an alternative life”. I worked in finance, taught English around the world and tried my hand at operations management. I was always creative and wanted to study art or photography when I was 18, but I didn’t know any photographers or artists and I didn’t realise that such a career choice was possible. After years of doing non-creative jobs, I decided to go into photography professionally in my late 20s, I started off by doing evening and weekend courses in photography and later did an MA in Documentary Photography at the London College of Communications, which was a turning point in my life and started my creative career.
Your work has explored the LGBTQIA community across the world, why do you think it is so important we document these stories through visual media?
My work has a documentary approach and I explore topics close to my heart. I like to document the world around me, my communities and experiences. LGBTQIA people worldwide have been repeatedly written out from mainstream narratives, under or misrepresented, and often reduced to stereotypes of pride parades, glitter, parties and protests. Of course, that reality exists, and I document it myself, but I believe queer lives are more nuanced than that and want to document the variety of stories and experiences. Amongst others, my projects to date have explored gender identity in Eastern Europe, LGBTQIA communities and conversion therapy in the Balkans, and queer Muslim people in London, and I regularly carry my camera around me and document events as they unfold, which led me to capture the opening of La Camionera in February.
In the political and social climate today, what is the role of photographers and videographers?
More than ever before, we live in a world saturated in images, we communicate using gifs, photos, memes, selfies or clips. Visual literacy has become as important as language literacy, and I think photographers and videographers are uniquely positioned to use their skills and creativity to tell the stories that matter, stories that help us unlearn, ask questions, stories that help us tap into our common humanity and empathy.
A lot of your work centres around themes of migration and identity, what drew you to these themes? And why do you think they are so connected to the LGBTQIA community?
I moved to the UK at the age of 10 from Poland with my family and I didn’t speak any English. My life has been underpinned by straddling two cultures, two languages and two countries. In Poland, I am not Polish enough, and in the UK I am not British “enough”. My personal experience of migration, and ongoing assimilation has shaped me and I continue to explore these themes in my work. One of my multimedia projects, Citizens Of Nowhere, is a personal exploration of my Polish identity in post-Brexit Britain.
How does your own life and identity influence your work?
As with many creatives, I feel that my life is my work and my work is my life, the lines frequently blur. I find inspiration in my experiences, but my projects are often fuelled by my determination to change or connect with others. I see my work as a space for conversation, and community building and I hope that the stories I create can bring people closer together.
Could you tell us more about your project Nothing But A Curtain which has recently been awarded a grant from the Centre for British Photography?
Nothing But A Curtain is my long-term documentary project about gender identity and womanhood in Central and Eastern Europe. In 2021, I travelled 4,552 miles (7325.80 km) across the former “Eastern Bloc” and interviewed 104 people about their experience. Travelling only by public transport, I visited 20 cities across Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. This project has been exhibited and recognised internationally and most recently has been awarded a Project Grant from the Centre for British Photography, which will allow me to turn it into a photography book. You can join my Mailing List Here to find out about the book and project updates: http://eepurl.com/iLZ02I
Are there any projects that you are currently working on that could tell us more about?
I am currently working on two new projects, one exploring queer parenthood in London, and the second one is entitled I Thought You Would Be Gayer about gender identity and body hair, which I hope to release later this year.
Learn more about Zula’s work here: https://zulara.co.uk/
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