Translife in Asia: A Photographer's Journey

Exhibition at the Gordon Snelgrove Gallery
Location: Murray Building, 3 Campus Dr.
Exhibition dates: Jan. 20 - 24, 2020
Brown bag lunch discussion: Jan. 23, noon - 1 pm
Closing reception: Jan. 24, 7 - 10 pm (refreshments available)

Translife in Asia, by Kloie Picot, is the result of 10 years dedicated to telling the stories of trans women in eight southeast Asian countries from 2004 - 2014. While the media tends to exploit transgender culture for entertainment value, Picot’s photos normalize, rather than sensationalize, Asian trans women. Translife in Asia captures the unabashed lives of trans women living as performers, sex workers, artists, designers and religious and political activists with respect and compassion few have been able to capture. Picot reveals for the audience the personal stories of trans women that demand to be told. The exhibition is one of art and education.

During the exhibition, Picot is available at the Gordon Snelgrove Gallery:
Jan. 20 - 24, from 1- 4 pm 
Jan. 23, noon - 1 pm for a brown bag lunch discussion
Jan. 24, 7 - 10 pm for the closing party 

Speaker's bio:
Kloie Picot, documentarian photographer, filmmaker and social worker, lived in Asia for 26 years. Beginning in 2004, Picot, struck by the professionality, popularity and talent of the "katoey" or "ladyboy" performers headlining cabarets in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta, sought permission to photograph their performances, both in front of and behind the stage. This resulted in deep friendships and alliances within the community and led Picot to explore other trans communities – from sex workers to beauty queen pageants to trans rights activists – and how being transgender affects their relationships to each other and to the outside world.

Enquiries can be directed to Dr. Romain Chareyron (PhD), assistant professor of French, at roc104@usask.ca. 

Partially sponsored and funded by the Office of the Dean of Arts and Science through the Role Model Speaker Fund