A major new photography installation is set to light up central London for Trans Awareness Week, inviting visitors to see trans people in a different light – literally and figuratively.
Trans is Human, a portrait project celebrating the ordinary and extraordinary lives of trans people in the UK, will return this month with a free exhibition at Outernet London in Soho. The show runs from 17 to 22 November and is open to the public at no cost.
The project pairs large-scale monochrome portraits with personal stories, foregrounding trans people not as headlines or talking points, but as neighbours, colleagues, friends and family members. Thirteen trans people from across the country feature in this latest iteration of the exhibition.
One of the sitters, Sarah, is a trans woman who lost her sight at 42. Far from retreating, she has taken on challenges such as firewalking, abseiling and running marathons, pushing back against stereotypes about both disability and being trans. Another portrait focuses on Milo, a 16-year-old trans boy who spends his free time learning the drums, swimming and playing in a rugby team.
The images are shot by internationally recognised photographer Mariano Vivanco, whose fashion and portrait work has appeared in some of the world’s biggest magazines. Here, his lens turns away from catwalks and campaigns to focus on real people and their day-to-day lives.
Co-produced by Jake and Hannah Graf, Trans is Human was created as a response to years of increasingly hostile coverage and political debate around trans lives in Britain. The couple say the project aims to restore a sense of humanity and nuance that is too often missing from conversations about gender identity.
For this new London run, the exhibition is being staged at Outernet London, a huge immersive space by Tottenham Court Road that has rapidly become one of the country’s most visited cultural destinations. Visitors will see the portraits towering above them on the venue’s wraparound digital screens, accompanied by a specially curated soundtrack that includes music from alt-rock star Yungblud.
The musician has spoken about being “honoured” to be part of the project, saying that Trans is Human aligns with their own commitment to celebrating individuality and self-expression. Their track will play as part of the experience, adding an emotional layer to the visuals on screen.
Trans is Human first appeared earlier this year with a debut exhibition at Westfield, the vast west London shopping centre. The team behind it hope to build on that success by expanding the project into a growing archive, adding new portraits over time to reflect the breadth of trans experience – across ages, backgrounds, regions and interests.
The exhibition arrives at a difficult moment for many trans people in the UK. Recent polling has suggested that a significant majority of trans adults feel unsafe or anxious in public spaces, citing fear of harassment, discrimination or abuse. Against that backdrop, the creators of Trans is Human say they want to offer a space where trans people are seen on their own terms, and where allies can reflect on the impact of the current climate.
Outernet’s creative director for culture and lifestyle, Scott Neal, has said that hosting the project aligns with the venue’s values of equality, fairness and safety. He describes the work as a reminder that gender identity is just one part of a person’s story, not the whole of who they are.
Trans is Human will be displayed at Outernet London in Soho from 17 to 22 November and is free to visit. No ticket is required, making it an accessible way for Londoners and visitors alike to engage with Trans Awareness Week and hear directly from trans people about their lives.