Photo report project on sex workers and their circle

Garces (working title)

Garces is a combination of photographic portraits and reports showcasing the testimony of various female sex workers and their close circle, attempting to propose a neutral and descriptive look at a misconstrued universe and a socialy discriminated world. Between twenty and forty people with relations with this type of occupation, either from direct practice or from frequent contact with women who practice one, will be interviewed. These meetings and reports will take place in Canada (Montreal (March to May 2012) and Vancouver (June to August 2012)), USA (New-York and San Francisco (May 2012 and December 2012), Lebanon (February to April 2013) Other cities may be visited during the process.

We will attempt to present a global perspective on the various careers related to sex; legal careers – masseuse, porn actress, webcam showgirl, drag queen; illegal careers – street walker, call girl, lap dancer, dominatrix, ex-prostitute. We also want to portray the people surrounding women who practice such careers; close relatives – parents, lovers; statutory interveners – vice squad agent, outreach worker, social worker; key figures in their world – escort agency owner, strip club owner, porn film director, chauffeur, receptionist, client; and people opposed to decriminalization of sex work – feminist activist, etc.Each person interviewed will benefit from total freedom of expression about their views and ideas on the subject.

We consider essential that the reader would be able to form his own opinion, and that we do not influence bias. Garces wants to be devoid of any judgment, as an art book, even if a polemic one. Photography may be bare-faced or anonymous (represented by a close-up of a body part, or by a place or object that represent themselves; anything they wish.)

***About the authors: Roxanne Mailloux holds a degree in French literature (Université Laval) and a diploma in commercial and artistic photography (Collège Marsan). She specializes in polemical art and images that trigger reflection. Pierre-Luc Dubois studied sexual anthropology and feminism (Université Laval) and in diverse artistic fields (movie making, graphic art) and teamed up with Roxanne in 2009 develloping the concept of FOLLY Photographe. They are Montreal based photographer. Both of them are actually going forward in the practice of photo reporting, while maintaining and sharpening their blunt and empathic vision of the modern world and its taboos. Cumulating a few exhibitions in Montreal as well as one at the Launch Pad gallery in New York, and a publication in the book Nude Closeup by E.G. Erwin. Roxanne is a volunteer for the Stella organization and an activist for the sex workers rights.