Raphë

Raphë is a queer, shape-shifting artist primarily working in performance and video art. Their practice focuses on creating contemporary queer images and visuals based on reinterpretations of religious iconography.
Their work is characterized by handmade costume assemblages and gestures, presented as compositions with minimalist extravagance. It falls within an ascetic artistic approach, marked by the duality between the perpetual search for dissidence and the aspiration for sanctification. Operating mainly in subcultural arenas, Raphë’s works are often found in wastelands, abandoned places, and austere environments.
Their video performance Tërra Bëstia, distributed by the Canadian Filmmaker Distribution Center (Toronto), won the award for Best Dance Music Video in 2022 at the Parai International Musical Awards (Chennai). In 2023, their performance Nous sommes tou·te·s des hypocrites was showcased at the Festival Art Souterrain (Canada). Raphë is currently finalizing an independent short film, Dumpster Duchess, slated for early 2025.