Athi-Patra Ruga
- Isaiah Mourning and Camila Calero
- Apr 16
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 24
Versatile Queen: A Transhuman Proposal (2016)
Close Looking: Queer African Art and Belong
Visual description:
The artwork is made of wool and presented on a tapestry canvas. The color scheme is dominated by complementary red, green, and blue tones. At the center is the drag persona of the artist, Athi-Patra Ruga.
This persona, Versatile Queen Ivy, brings together elements of both masculinity and femininity to suggest what the artist describes as a “transhuman” experience of gender. These elements appear in the long, flowing hair and clothing, contrasted with a more traditionally masculine facial structure.
The green wig draws attention to the face, highlighting this tension between masculine and feminine features while keeping both visible. A gold border frames the portrait, giving the figure a sense of elevation or divinity. The lighting across the surface creates a slightly disorienting effect, contributing to the work’s distinctly queer visual presence.
Context:
Athi-Patra Ruga’s Versatile Queen: A Transhuman Proposal (2016) forms part of his ongoing exploration of identity and self-representation. Born in Mthatha, South Africa, and working between Johannesburg and Cape Town, Ruga frequently develops recurring characters or “avatars” that appear across his work.
One of these is Versatile Queen Ivy. According to the artist, this figure draws inspiration from Rihanna and the legend of Lady Godiva. By combining pop culture and historical reference, Ruga creates a persona that exists outside conventional definitions of masculinity and femininity.
The title A Transhuman Proposal suggests a way of thinking about identity that moves beyond fixed social expectations. Masculinity and femininity are not presented as opposites, but as qualities that can coexist and shift.
Interpretation:
The use of wool and tapestry highlights the crafted nature of the image, suggesting that gender itself can be constructed, assembled, and performed. The combination of flowing, traditionally feminine elements with a more masculine facial structure may be read as a critique of fixed ideas of femininity.
At the same time, this blending can be understood as a form of gender expansiveness or even divinity, echoing cultural traditions in which gender exists beyond binary categories.
The reference to ivy, a plant known for its resilience and ability to grow across surfaces, suggests that identity is not static but continuously developing. It moves, adapts, and resists containment.
Color also plays a key role. The green hair, set against a red background, creates a strong visual contrast that draws the eye toward the face. This may emphasize the tension between performed masculinity and femininity, making that interplay more visible.
Reflect and Explore
How do we see gender being constructed in this work? What elements suggest masculinity or femininity?
How might drag function here as a way of questioning or critiquing gender expectations?
How would the meaning of this work shift if it were made in a different medium, such as painting or sculpture?
The persona draws on figures like Rihanna and Lady Godiva. Where do you see these influences in the image?
Learn More
Contextual Reading
Keith E. McNeal, “Behind the Makeup: Gender Ambivalence and the Double Bind of Gay Selfhood in Drag Performance”
Phillip Brian Harper, “‘The Subversive Edge’: Paris Is Burning, Social Critique, and the Limits of Subjective Agency”
Carolyn Epple, “Coming to Terms with Navajo Nadleehi”
This is such a good read! I feel like the woven nature makes the constructed gender idea so much more literal.
I thought the description was very thorough. I especially appreciated the observation of quilting/sewing being a traditionally feminine art and its contrast with the masculine structure by the artist to convey meaning.