5 books on queer culture from our independent bookshop

As For Your Pleasure reflects on the vibrant moments of 90s UK queer club culture through photography and film, Open Eye Gallery also presents a selection of books that document the passion, struggle, and creativity of the queer community across different historical periods. From the ecstasy of the dancefloor to the chants of street movements to the intimate moments captured on film, these works collectively paint a fluid and diverse portrait of queer culture, showcasing how individuals have navigated the space between the margins and the mainstream, exploring identity and pushing boundaries.

Calling The Shots, edited by Zorian Clayton

£40.00

Narrated through the collections of London’s V&A Museum, Calling The Shots offers an unprecedented perspective on photographic history through a queer lens. It covers globally representative LGBTQIA+ works from the mid-19th century to the present, images documenting activism and hard-won legal battles, as well as performance, nightlife, and the diverse queer communities and subcultures. This book is an acknowledgement of the decades of queer theory, and the volume brings together thinkers and trailblazers that have informed the reading of the images. 

Cafe Royal Books – Fashion, Music, London 1980s, edited by Jane Simon

£6.70

This zine by Jane Simon captures the music, nightlife, and subcultures of the 80s and 90s, from Boy George and Elton John to Madonna Lookalike Competition, showcasing the diversity of club culture. While highlighting queer presence, it also extends to the broader music and underground scenes, revealing a world of desire, rebellion, and identity on the dance floor.

90s Archive: Volume 1, 2, 3 by Marc Vallée

£20.00 for Volume 1&2, £15.00 for Volume 3

Marc Vallée’s zine series captures the unique experiences and emotions of the queer community through visual storytelling. From the transformation and anticipation before a night out, to the interplay of distance and desire on beaches and boardwalks, to intimate portraits in a London basement apartment in the 1990s, these works unfold like a visual novel. These snapshots of queer life create a larger picture of queer relationships, ever-changing identities, and the emotional landscape of the community.

Ren Hang by Dian Hanson

£35.00

This book is a tribute to the late Beijing photographer Ren Hang and his vivid, controversial nude photographs of friends, models, and fans. Throughout his career, Hang was arrested several times for his explicit photographs and experienced heavy censorship in China. His work is shocking in content and remarkable for its technical mastery. Published by TASCHEN, it is the only international collection that covers his entire career.

Revolution is Love: A Year of Black Trans Liberation by Queen Jean, Joela Rivera and Mikelle Street

£35.00

Revolution Is Love is a powerful visual record of contemporary radical activism in New York City and a testament to the enduring role of photography in advocacy and community building. Featuring the work of 24 photographers, this book captures the protests through images, interviews, and writings, honoring the shared joy and struggle of the trans community in the fight for liberation.

Text and images by Gloria Li