Hilllvale Gallery + Marlo W

Hillvale Gallery will be presenting the self-published photo-book Foreground: Portraits of Older Transgender and Gender Diverse People by Naarm-based photographer and artist Marlo W, to coincide with an exhibition of the same title. Foreground is a celebration of a group of people who are often overlooked. Sharing the stories of older transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people is integral to demythologising transgender people to the broader community.

“I often think about my older self. Who will be with me when I am older? Will I be living in an aged care home? Will I be living with a lover as we take care of each other? Will I be living with friends? Wherever I end up, I want to be safe and know that the people around me are empathetic and understanding of me as a person, and of my transness. There is a severe lack of representation of older transgender and gender diverse (TGD) individuals in the media. As a result, their intimate lives — their thoughts, passions, interests, hopes, struggles, regrets — become something of a mystery. It is important for people to see themselves reflected in society. It is how we experience belonging. As a young transgender person, where will I belong if I do not see mysel reflected in my elders?” - Marlo W

35mm film scans and text
Self-published by Marlo W
232 pages, 20 x 27.5 cm, perfect bind softcover
First Edition of 100
Editor: Lia Dewey Morgan
Design: Amy Yu