Your Sunday Inspiration ✨

Aka Tawlah, Kee Kunnath, Edinburgh Art Festival and more ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Retratistas do Morro, courtesy of Balam Magazine As the Olympic torch was ceremoniously passed from Paris onto Los Angeles – the host of the 2028 Games – [Keerthana Kunnath]( comments on the challenges that sportswomen from the Global Majority face in comparison to their western peers through her series documenting female bodybuilders in South India. Not What You Saw is a perfect image of ‘soft power’ and Kunnath’s subjects are a nouveau femininity – they exude confidence and pride in their muscular physiques which no doubt take years of grit to build, while presented in traditionally feminine and tender aesthetic sensibilities. In today’s context, they nod to Imane Khelif’s [PR and legal battle against JK Rowling]( (and others) who wrongly accused the Algerian boxer of being a transgender woman. In light of this and events such as female wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s sit-in protest in India, Kunnath reminds us of the importance of highlighting the racialised woman’s double standards not only in sport but under the western gaze. Kunnath’s palette is built on cinematic yet softened orange and teal hues, complemented by the pastel shades of the bodybuilders’ clothing inspired by traditional materials of the region. One woman’s dress is short and sheer with green-pink stripes, ruched detailing and thin straps – it is a striking portrait of nuance. Ryszard Kisiel, 1985-1986, Queer Archives Institute collection, courtesy of the artist Miles away from India, BJP headed to Scotland to survey the photo projects at this year’s [Edinburgh Art Festival](. Digging into the archives of Filo, a late-1980s queer magazine run from the Polish underground, Ravi Ghosh spoke to curator Karol Radziszewski, “the first (officially) openly gay artist in Poland” and founder of DIK Fagazine. The project is both a tongue-in-cheek response to, and serious rebuttal of, the Eastern European history of queer cultural suppression. The artist’s research is activist-based, leaning away from institutional forms of archiving and fine art. There is also a “degree of secrecy” informing the presentation, Ghosh writes, “with Radziszewski pointing out that although Kisiel moved in a large and diverse community of drag performers, it is rare to see his peers photographed.” Queer activism through lens-based art is certainly not a thing of the past. In Buenos Aires, [Balam]( is the region’s first queer magazine dedicated to contemporary photography. The magazine’s founder Luis Juárez told Dalia Al-Dujaili about the challenges of receiving funding – or the lack thereof – and why, given Milei’s far-right rise to power, a magazine like Balam is more important now than ever. The magazine’s 10th issue honours Bohemia in all its forms, especially as a form of resistance to violence, and heavily covers the Indigenous rights movements of South America as well as Latino queer archives. Cover Image © John Sturrock | reportdigital.co.uk Revealing the cover of⁠Issue #7919: Work We’re excited to reveal the wraparound cover of our Work issue, featuring an iconic shot taken by John Sturrock during the UK Miners’ Strike. Showing a mass picket confronting police lines in Bilston Glen, Scotland, in 1984, it captures the antagonism of this key event in British industrial history. Become a BJP Full Access Member by 23 August and take advantage of exclusive perks, including home delivery of the Work magazine and free entry to our internationally esteemed awards, including Female in Focus x Nikon, opening for entries in October 2024. [Become a Member]( [Build the way you want]( In India, female bodybuilding is as challenging as it is rewarding Keerthana Kunnath reveals how a community of South Indian bodybuilders dismantle longstanding perceptions of femininity and body image [Read more]( [Build the way you want]( The collective driving support of SWANA photographers A collective for photobook-makers in the SWANA region, aka TAWLA aims to highlight their narratives and recently created a publication featuring Palestinian photographers [Read more]( [Build the way you want]( Photography at Edinburgh Art Festival 2024 Visitors are treated to a breadth of approaches, from Polish subculture archives to intimate domestic imagery [Read more]( Take our survey and win a photobook package Our survey looking into your experience of the photography industry will be open until 20 August, and we’d love to hear from you. By participating, you not only contribute to a better understanding of the industry but also get a chance to win a photobook package. [Take the survey]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [1854 Media Ltd, 244-254 Cambridge Heath Rd, Cambridge Heath, London, E2 9DA, United Kingdom Click here to update your email preferences]( [Click here to unsubscribe from all emails](