Sustain - The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values - Clara Watt

Auckland Festival of Photography is proud to present Clara Watt's ‘The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values’ exhibition as part of the ‘Sustain’ [tautīnei] theme - in partnership with the Indian Photo Festival 2024 open call programme. 

This is a documentary series about an evolving story, featuring portraits that originally aimed to give visibility to the courage and strength of the community, these people have become ghost-like figures, hidden behind a bill that denies and criminalises their existence as Ghanaians, Africans, and human beings. The development of the series shows the reality for Ghana’s LGBTQ+ community; the repression of their dreams, desires, and futures.

This project shows the impact of an anti-LGBTQ+ bill in Ghana using portraits and collage to show the contrast between expression and repression. It aims to bring global attention to these human rights violations, advocating for social change and protections for the LGBTQ+ communities in Ghana and beyond.

“My initial project in 2022 aimed to show proud portraits of Ghana’s LGBTQ+ community. Despite facing a bill that denied their human rights, all my subjects chose to show their faces and share their names (original photo titles). Once the bill had passed, I realized this exposure was dangerous. All my subjects asked that their photos be taken down in fear of persecution and prosecution.” – Clara Watt

This exhibition was shown at the Indian Photo Festival in Hyderabad, in 2024.

Provision 1

Provision 8

Provision 10

Provision 17