Rae Smith (they/them)
London, UK
Rae is an intersex, trans, non binary artist and activist from London, UK. Working across multiple disciplines, their work calls into question the very foundations of predisposed physical, biological and metaphysical notions upon which prevailing contemporary culture is built. Rae’s work highlights intersex, trans and neurodiverse experiences, places non binary bodies as visually centric, and transcends intersections between colonialist and imperialist domination of gender, race, culture, environment, mental health, neurodivergence and sex.
Personal Statement of Art
For this series I drew inspiration from traditional, indigenous and prehistoric art around the world. African, Aboriginal, Native American – Romani and Folk – as well as Norse and Wicca symbolism, Japanese block printing and Paleolithoc cave paintings from throughout Europe.
I was inspired by the way that art had been used not as an egocentric tool for the artist’s social standing, or a tool of capitalistic gain, but as a form of storytelling, education, and sharing intergenerational experiences.
In keeping with this, I tell stories of human figures living amongst the chaos of life – whether within a forest, a city, a community … or whether the chaos of our own minds and bodies. Within these are lessons to be learned on many levels about the assumptions we form regarding history, race, gender, sex, class, the environment – and I encourage viewers to question their thoughts and make space in their minds for perspectives and stories that might
not often have residence.
Intersex, trans and disabled bodies of all shapes and sizes are shown in colours which depict the tools of our shared ancestors – yellow ochre, red ochre, black charcoal, turquoise water and white chalk.
In deconstructing our own systemic opinions we deconstruct our place in the system and uncover interconnections between our oppressions and experiences.
In listening to and opening ourselves up to the stories of others, both past and present, we decolonise our minds and heal together – erasing what we have been taught in books and museums and discovering what we find scribbled on the walls of the past or printed by stone and wood onto parchment papers around the world.
As an intersex artist I always seek to put our bodies at the forefront, and I have sought to find joy in the stories of our lives and to show our interconnectedness with the world around us.
So often we are treated as medical phenomena, as trauma porn or inspirational stories – or as nothing at all. And for so many of us yes, we do have much trauma to share.
But in this series I celebrate our existence throughout history, with images that are ambiguous in terms of time or place. I invoke the viewer to imagine our stories, to unravel their own mindset and dance or climb or sing with us – to hear us and to see us. And to learn beyond their own experiences.
I also invite intersex viewers to revel in the joy of their own existence – to see themselves at peace dancing and singing and loving and writhing in the dirt of the world. I invite the intersex viewer to see work about them. And for them. And in love with them.
Amongst the collection stands one piece that perhaps juxtaposes the style of the others. The chaos has reached an electric static and the symbols of nature have paled into the background – as sharp human forms dominate at the forefront.
The lessons here are more obscured than ever and harder still to find. But they are still there – and so are we.
COLLECTION: Tales From The Chaos
In Shadows, From Water
Rae, 2022
Digital, 4000px X 4000px
A Gift Of Place
Rae, 2022
Digital, 4000px X 4000px
The Discovery Of Living Life
Rae, 2022
Digital, 4000px X 4000px
Mountain, Bridge, City, Temple, Bed
Rae, 2022
Digital, 4000px X 4000px
Hide and Seek;Static and Loss
Rae, 2022
Digital, 4000px X 4000px
Support Intersex Artists
Follow Rae on social media and support their work