They Carry Us Still, 2025

Motherhood, for me, is not confined to biology but found within the chosen bonds that sustain and nurture us. As a queer person when I was living far from home in Berlin, with Australia on the other side of the world, I came to understand “mother” not only as a singular figure but as a presence that emerges through the women who surround and support me in daily life. In queer histories, particularly within narratives of gay men, the stories most often told are those of loss, tragedy, and survival: the HIV epidemic, exile, and the fracture of family ties. Yet rarely are the women remembered who carried so many of us through, offering love, shelter, and acceptance when biological mothers could not. These women, in their strength and quiet resilience, have long been the unseen matriarchs of queer life. This image seeks to honour those figures. Through portraiture and intimate moments, I aim to capture the maternal qualities and strength embodied by the women in my world, their ability to hold, to witness, to care, and to lead. These images are both personal and collective: they reflect my own experience of chosen family, while also acknowledging a broader lineage of motherly figures who have stood alongside queer communities through generations. In photographing them, I am not only celebrating their presence but also reframing the narrative of motherhood itself: as something expansive, diverse, and deeply rooted in connection. This image is a tribute to the women who mother without being named as such, whose strength, compassion, and unwavering support make survival and joy possible.

Xavier is a Melbourne/Naarm based emerging photographer whose work explores subcultures with a particular focus on the queer community. His practice is inspired by the creative, fashionable, and vibrant people in his life, drawing from intimate connections to capture moments that are both personal and culturally resonant. Having lived in Berlin for six years, Xavier brings a global perspective to his work, blending influences from underground scenes with a distinctly Australian sensibility. Through fashion, portraiture, and documentary-inflected imagery, Xavier seeks to celebrate individuality and the communities that shape contemporary culture.