The Sassy Show

AJAMU X: Punk, Pleasure, and the Politics of Black Queer Softness

The Sassy Show and Friends Season 10 Episode 8

Join Bethany on The Sassy Show as she sits down with renowned photographic artist Ajamu X in his studio for an intimate conversation about black queer bodies, pleasure, sensuality, and the radical act of gentleness. 

From his post-punk roots in Northern England to his darkroom practice, Ajamu shares his philosophy on creating softer representations of black masculinity, his inspiration from the artist Rotimi Fani-Kayode, his love of old-school African-American porn magazines, and why he'd rather be called punk than queer. 

Expect honest talk about foot fetishes, the sensuousness of image processing, navigating the art world as a black queer artist, and why his advice to younger artists is simple: be kinkier, be sexier, push it further. 

This is a conversation about feeling rather than just seeing - from the darkroom to the dungeon, honey. 

Get to know Ajamu's work on ig @ajamustudios and via his website ajamu-studio.com 

Interview by Bethany Burgoyne @bxsassy2 

Filmed by Ciaran Christopher @ciaran.christopher 

Produced and edited by @_thesassyshow

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