Opulence is an ongoing photographic exploration that pays homage to my late brother and the broader Afro-Caribbean community—many of whom continue to struggle for the freedom to fully express their sexuality and gender identity. Despite evolving global conversations on LGBTQ+ rights, within the Caribbean community, homosexuality remains heavily stigmatised and condemned, often met with cultural and religious resistance.

Black individuals from the former Dutch colonies and Caribbean islands residing in the Netherlands face layers of racialisation and objectification, existing within a paradox of hyper-visibility and erasure. This project aims to dismantle these narratives by presenting unembellished yet profoundly graceful portraits, capturing the raw beauty and resilience of these individuals.

Since the spring of 2013, I have been documenting the Ballroom scene in cities such as Amsterdam, Berlin, Milan, and Paris. Within these spaces, ‘Houses’ serve as chosen families—offering sanctuary and a means of expression that transcends societal barriers related to gender, race, and class. Ballroom culture provides an emancipatory platform, blending fashion and attitude with mutual support, fostering an environment where survival and self-definition coexist.

For many LGBTQ+ youth of Afro-Caribbean descent, the Ballroom scene offers an essential refuge from structural vulnerabilities, including systemic racism, homelessness, violence, and mental health struggles. These youth often find themselves marginalised within their communities of origin and broader societal structures, navigating intersecting challenges of racial and gender-based oppression.

Through a sincere and ethical approach, I have earned the trust of this vibrant community, resisting the exploitative lens often wielded by mainstream media. The choice of black and white photography invokes the underground aesthetics of previous eras, grounding the work in a visual language that speaks to both historical struggles and contemporary resilience.

Opulence aspires to build a living archive—preserving the expressions, emotions, and identities of the Black Caribbean LGBTQ+ diaspora in the Netherlands. In doing so, it affirms the vitality and endurance of this community, both in the diaspora and across the Caribbean. The inclusion of UV-visible ink within select prints symbolises the ongoing battle against invisibility, illuminating the dual realities of concealment and self-affirmation.

The project has received creative development support from leading cultural institutions in the Netherlands, including the Mondriaan Fund, the Commissie voor Ateliers en (Woon)Werkpanden Amsterdam (CAWA), and the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science. These institutions have provided crucial resources that have enabled deeper artistic exploration, fostering a meaningful dialogue around identity and representation within the Dutch and Caribbean diaspora.

The project has been exhibited at prestigious institutions such as van Abbemuseum, Foam Photography Museum, Het Nederlands Fotomuseum, and Aperture Gallery, and has been featured in international publications including The New York Times, Vogue Magazine, and Magnum Photos. These platforms have provided a wider audience for the work while fostering critical conversations about race, identity, and belonging within the LGBTQ+ community.

This work is a testament to survival, resistance, and beauty within the margins. For further inquiries or collaboration, please feel free to get in touch.