MARVEL

Publishers Description

“An unflinching closeup of [Harris’] traumas, as well as a tender account of the support he received from those close to him.” – The Observer 

"Harris’ black and white photographs are direct emotional depictions ... captured in a delicate style which pays particular attention to the body’s storytelling ability.” – Elephant

"This extraordinary debut invites you to accompany the photographer through a perilous passage in his young life … a hugely life-affirming story of self-acceptance, bravery, and love.” – Dazed 

“At first the focus of my project was my gender transition, but along the way I found out that it’s about an ongoing search for myself: being a human with feelings, who is continuously developing.” — Marvel Harris
 
MARVEL describes the journey of Marvel Harris’ personal battles with mental illness, self-love, acceptance, and gender identity, all told through a searing collection of self-portraits spanning the course of five years. These photographs present a new-found visual language; a tool with which Marvel was able to express those emotions that, on account of his autism, he previously struggled to make sense of. The process of making these portraits allowed him to connect to the world around him at the time he needed it most.
 
Winner of the MACK First Book Award 2021, MARVEL is an important new voice which contributes to an increased awareness of the issues surrounding gender identity and mental health. In doing so, this deeply personal book demands a more tolerant attitude from society towards transgender people and those who don’t identify as entirely male or female.