SAMO
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SHOWCASING THE BEAUTY OF TRANS BODIES Jules Guaitamacchi talks to Samo, a trans rights activist and professional artist ) Samo runs a tattoo studio and gallery, Play Dead, in Portsmouth, which recently closed its doors in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. Samo had been recovering from back surgery after ongoing sciatica, finding himself immobilised even before the lockdown. There he began to create his latest project, a series of work that showcases and celebrates the beauty of trans bodies. To support his mission and legacy, he has launched a Crowdfunding campaign to commission the project and to help create a wider, even global, reach.
Tell us about your upcoming project “This project is about changing the narrative when it comes the way we look at the human
body. It’s time we not only ‘normalise’, but admire the beauty of trans bodies as we have nude bodies throughout the history of art. There’s such a lack of trans visibility or representation in the world of art, therefore I wanted to take up space, use my platform as an artist for trans inclusivity with my work.” What inspired you to create this work? “It can feel so empowering to celebrate a body that you’ve struggled with for your entire life. The turning point for me was after top surgery, feeling comfortable in my own skin for the very first time. Growing into feeling comfortable in my own skin has been an ongoing battle, especially getting to a
place where I’m able to enjoy my body. However, this work isn’t about hormones, surgery or the medical side of transition, this is about embracing our bodies in all forms, so we can feel confident about ourselves outside the hetero/cis-normative beauty standards ingrained in our society.” What’s the purpose of the project and what do you hope to achieve? “I consider art a form of communication. There’s so much negativity in the media and I want to continue to influence positivity and drown out the voice of discrimination and hate imposed on us by negative opinions of trans people. Trans people have had to face so much adversity in our lives and as a result are some of the strongest people. Rather than being shamed and silenced it’s time for us to stand up and be proud of who we are.” What message do you hope to communicate through your work? “I want to be a positive voice and role model, especially for youth so they might grow up in a world with a culture that is different to ours and feel confident enough to express themselves
