Shimmering Lukas, Rakvere

This project proposes a new conceptual model of shimmering aesthetics to deepen our understanding of gender embodiment in fashion. Efforts to produce queer fashion imagery using secondhand clothing—moving away from luxury trends—often encountered apathy or skepticism. By incorporating water-inspired reflective elements into specific fashion styles, I upcycled secondhand garments and transformed them to create intentional photographic portrayals of Lukas. Framed through "care" as an ontological lens, the project explored queer and gender non-conforming aesthetic experiences, revealing how identity is shaped by the interplay of gender, ethnicity, sexuality, and class. Fashion imagery and installations were thoughtfully curated to respectfully depict non-normative individuals—often marginalized or vulnerable—as empowered, desirable, and brimming with potential, presenting a non-elitist perspective on gender embodiment in fashion.

Shimmering Lukas (2022) offers a groundbreaking take on queer aesthetics by employing shimmering elements to disrupt binary notions of gender and sexuality (male-female, homo-hetero). Through the use of transparency in exhibition spaces, the layering of photography and video projections with shine, glitter, and fluid textiles reimagines queer aesthetic pleasure, paving the way for new avenues of self-expression.

The project is proudly supported by the Belgian Embassy and Flanders State of the Arts.

https://festheart.ee/sadelev-lukas/