Photo credit Paul Reich

2. Between Friends by Esther McManus: I first encountered this work in 2019 and I do revisit it every so often. This work has influenced the way I now think about memory in a non-linear chronology. In Between Friends, Esther digs into aspects of communal practices that are often overlooked and manages to capture these tangible actions and activities.

Photo credit Esther McManus

3. gc2b binders: My binders from gc2b are lifesavers. They have fat-friendly sizes and are very snug. It took me a while to find appropriate binders that are able to hug me in the way that they do.

Photo credit gc2b 

4. Thing Books: Thing Books is an online bookshop that has a wide range of printed matter. I am currently finding myself returning to their website to see what new books/zines they have in store! Its niche feels like a missing part in the independent publishing/bookshop projects in Singapore and it makes me happy to see what Renée is able to put together.

I am looking forward to the addition of many more amazing work out there!

Photo credit Thing Books

5. Jodi Tan’s paintings: Every so often, I find myself returning to Jodi’s works to pay great attention to them. Somehow, Jodi is able to strike a balance in being both careful and effortless at the same time. Her sensibilities are super admirable — I wish I could see the world the way she does.

Photo Credit Jodi Tan

6. Late Bloomer by Maré Odomo: I was gifted this wee comics/poetry book by a dear friend, Marie. She shared that somehow this book taught her about transness, and how our processes could often look chaotic, patchy, and unresolved.

However, what’s most beautiful about this book is that it’s a reminder that we are in control of our process. Having agency over our mess is what makes it all life.

Photo credit Avery Hill Publishing

7. All Kin is Blood Kin by Coyote Park: This work captures queer families and kinship in the most beautiful way. Sometimes, I find it difficult to absorb work that capture trans bodies and queer relationships so vividly, especially through photographs, but Coyote’s work feels genuine and grounded.

His work feels spacious enough for me to sit with them and the bonds he has captured feel alive.

Photo credit Coyote Park 

8. Gender Explorers by Juno Roche: I have read this book multiple times and might always find myself returning to it for affirmation. I even found myself reading it out loud to/with some dear friends in cafes. Gender Explorers compiles interviews Juno had with trans and gender nonconforming children and teens, as well as some of their parents and carers.

Once you’re done with Aki Hassan’s obsessions, click here to catch up with our March 2022 cover stars, BTS!