Ezra Benisty is based in Lausanne (Switzerland), where they navigate between
academia and their artistic work, rooted in the in-betweens of their identity, intimacy
and sexuality.
Following their studies in English and French Literature at the Universities of
Lausanne and York (UK), with a specialization in translation, they are about to start a
PhD on Renaissance poetry and architecture.
They wrote/performed a play entitled The Web (2017) and a collection of poems on gender, love and sexuality (La Sensation des Fleurs, 2018). Since 2019, they work as the Direction Assistant and Communication Manager of the Lausanne Shakespeare Festival. They are in the process of translating the poetry of Angela Carter.
"Ray 2/3" by Ezra Benisty
When asked about what their work means to them, Ezra shares the following:
"As a white-passing POC, a non-binary queer folk who is perceived as male, a PhD
researcher who is also a proud sex worker and activist, I think that my artistic work is
inevitably rooted in the in-betweens of these strangely counterbalanced aspects of
my life.
"And the Polaroids, as well as the poetry that goes with it, are a way of finding
myself in all that—and finding others. I started taking these pictures as an exploration
of the fine line between intimacy and sexuality, but it turned out to be an act of
reappropriation to heal from sexual trauma – even though I wasn’t fully conscious of
it at the time –, and then it became so much more.
"It became an act of self-empowerment, a plea for consent, a moment of romance, friendship, sexual liberation and intimacy.
And what I find most rewarding is that some people wrote to me saying that they started exploring and welcoming the in-betweens and non-normative beauties of their body and identity. I think that’s the best part. Celebrating and empowering each other through art."
As an artist, Ezra is currently working on a mix of poetry – in English and
French – and Polaroids that are available on Instagram (@br8kblowburn) and on
their website (www.br8kblowburn.com). Scroll below to see a highlighted work from the series!
Green Rope 3/3
macro mode
his foot on my tongue mine in his hand the one
that’s not fingering me one in him
a world opens—
our skins sigh
*
mode macro
son pied sur ma langue le mien dans sa main la
main qui ne me doigte pas il a l’autre en lui
un monde s’ouvre—
nos peaux soupirent
--
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