“Women Are More Than Just Beautiful Bodies And Sexualised Objects”: Adrienne Raquel On Challenging Expectations Of Strip Clubs

Amidst a time of great uncertainty and disruptions blasted at every corner of the world, it can be easy to feel a sense of stagnation or procrastination crawling over us. With a body of works that’s expressive, poignant and suitably anthemic, New York-hailed photographer Adrienne Raquel has landed with a powerful dose of escapism. Or better, a brand-new exhibit, ONYX, commissioned by Fotografiska New York. “I wanted to stray away from my typical workflow and challenge myself to capture this series from a new, more documentarian point of view,” she says.

With female empowerment at the core of her practice, the exhibition recounts the eponymous strip club in Houston, Texas. For this, she highlights the nuances of Southern strip culture by blazing her own trail across femininity, sisterhood and liberation. The work reflects upon the vibrant and uplifting journey that photography has taken her on, accompanied by an equally emotive manifesto from the subject matters she chose to portray. “I’ve come to realise that there is somewhat of a family structure at Club Onyx,” she reckons. “In many instances, the dancers look out for one another, protect each other, motivate one another, and help each other get ready for the night.”

Ahead of the exhibition launch via Fotografiska’s website, Vogue caught up with the photographer to discuss why the industry should be free to talk about breaking boundaries, identity and the female gaze.

Adrienne, it’s a pleasure having you here with us. Could you describe the type of photography you create?

My photography is an ode to womanhood and femininity. I love exploring and depicting the relationship that women have with their inner selves—who they are, how they feel about themselves, and how such exude their confidence. My work is all about celebrating womanhood and giving the women that I lens the stage to feel beautiful and feel seen at their best, most heightened self.  Whenever I shoot, my goal is to create a safe space and develop a level of trust where my subjects can tap into their inner femininity, own their confidence and effortlessly express and embrace themselves wholeheartedly. I feel as though these attributes are what give my work a special aura. My photography is often rooted in fantasy—it’s bold, it’s sexy, it’s glamorous and at times, it’s nostalgic and dreamy. I use warm, vibrant hues, and soft lighting to accentuate the innate details and subtleties that make each of the women that I photograph unique. 

When did you first develop an interest in this practice?

My love for photography developed during my freshman year in college. It was there that I had my first experience in a formal film-darkroom photography course.  My photographs at the time also revolved around the concept of womanhood and inner self. I initially began with shooting self-portraits. I was fascinated with the idea capturing these altered versions of myself. I would dress up, put on makeup and photograph myself in various scenarios according to how I felt at the moment. The portraits that I created at that time revolved around concepts of identity, altered ego, self-reflection, and sensuality. I realised with photography that I literally had the freedom transform, create my own world and essentially, photograph my own narratives. This was exciting to me. I eventually moved on from shooting self-portraits and began photographing my friends. I believe this was the turning point for me to fully embrace my creativity and learn how to connect and capture the essence of other people, beyond myself.

Moving on to the exhibition,ONYX, a provocative – somewhat poignant – exploration of clubs, particularly the Onyx strip club in Houston TX, your photographs push against the grain by capturing dancers in “a candid and intimate environment.” What exactly did you want to portray through this narrative, and why did it matter to you?

With ONYX, I wanted to stray away from my typical workflow and challenge myself to capture this series from a new, more documentarian point of view. The goal was removing myself from my comfort zone, and photograph each entertainer from a truly intimate, candid perspective. I was granted full access to the entire club where I would typically shoot every night from 8pm to 4am. This gave the opportunity to experience the club at its slowest hours and its busiest moments. I would spend my nights sitting in the DJ booth, backstage, or random corners of the club until I saw a moment that I felt was worthy of capturing. All of these images were taken in the heat of the moment, in full action, during live performances. These photos are dynamic, spontaneous and at many times, the entertainers were unaware of my presence. I believe these women are worthy of recognition. Ultimately, I want to portray a narrative of femininity, sisterhood, self-transformation, and female empowerment amongst the entertainers at Club Onyx.

What’s your take on intimacy in womanhood, and how relevant does it feel in relation to the present times?

Womanhood and intimacy truly go hand in hand. Women are now at a time and place where we are at the forefront of openly expressing our emotions, desires, vulnerability, sensuality, sexual prowess, and connectivity. In my opinion, intimacy is an ever-changing process. It’s a space where you have to love and accept yourself, and be kind to yourself, listen to how you feel, and be comfortable with all aspects of who you are. I feel as though I reflect a certain level of intimacy within my work.

Historically, there is a societal stigma that plagues strip clubs, exotic dancing, and sex workers. A lot of people tend to pass judgment and demoralise these industries. In turn, the women that work in these spaces are often ostracised, objectified and minimis ed because of what they do, how they look, and how they make money. What’s your take?

With ONYX, I want to break those perceptions, and lend a true perspective into the lifestyle from my own female gaze. These entertainers are real women with talent, hopes, and dreams—just like everyone else. These women are valuable. This series humanises these women and captures their true essence, without the presence male spectators. 

Was it a challenging experience?

Capturing ONYX was a challenging, yet eye-opening experience. Photographing this series pushed me my out of my comfort zone, both socially and creatively. I’m known to have a bit of an elusive, introverted personality. I’ve always been shy natured—I’m highly observant and at most times, can be pretty reserved.  For ONYX, It was imperative for me stop out of my comfort zone and to submerge myself into an unfamiliar world, and essentially let go of my introverted ways. I extended myself to build a genuine connection and a sense of trust with women whom I’ve never met–—during some of their most erotic, sensual and at times, vulnerable moments. This was a huge responsibility for me, and ultimately a goal for this project so that I could capture the narrative from an authentic point of view. 

When I first began shooting, I remember having a sense of hesitancy and feeling intrusive in many ways. I had to quickly figure out how to adapt and confidently approach and navigate the club environment, the dancers, and the guests of the club.  Photographing this series also served as a creative challenge.

Another thought-provoking aspect that hails from your visual narrative is a focus on “the relationship dynamics amongst the dancers.” How did you go about portraying such in your photographs, and what does it mean to you?

The relationship dynamics between the dancers has always been something special that I’ve found captivating at strip clubs.  When at a strip club, it’s easy to get caught up in the allure of the atmosphere—the flashing lights, the music, the mirrors, the cash flow, and the beautiful women. Once you peel away all of these elements, there is a hidden dynamic amongst the dancers that isn’t always obvious to the naked eye. Behind the scenes, there are women that form these cohesive bonds amongst one another—similar to a sisterhood. 

I’ve come to realise that there is somewhat of a family structure at Club Onyx. In many instances, the dancers look out for one another, protect each other, motivate one another, and help each other get ready for the night. Through this experience, I got the opportunity to genuinely connect with the women in this space. Through them, I learned the importance of not making assumptions—everything is not it seems. 

What did you want to make people feel?

Ultimately, I want people to walk away from this exhibit with a newfound perspective on this industry and the women that perform in these venues. These women are more than just beautiful bodies and sexualised objects. They are worthy and deserve to be viewed in the light of their own humanity despite the negative stigmas that society has instilled. 

Was it therapeutic creating this at all? 

Photographing this series was definitely a therapeutic experience for me. Through conversations and through these images, I was able to see myself in women that I interacted with. They have inspired me in many ways and have taught the importance of being acceptant who I am—no matter what anyone else thinks, says, or believes. They also taught me the importance of being comfortable and confident in your own skin and owning it.

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For more updates on the exhibition, visit www.fotografiska.com. 
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