After starting ↗︎ Below the Belt in Brighton in 2019, Finch moved to Norway last year and is now currently setting up their new workshop in Lillehammer. Rooted in DIY ethics and practice, Below the Belt aims to create gender affirming leather gear in a mutually supportive way. In an attempt to explore and celebrate trans experiences around kink, Finch co-created the ↗︎ Trans Kink Zine in 2021 alongside Subira Joy and Darcy Leigh and published by ↗︎ Easter Road Press. Further images from Below the Belt, ↗︎ here. — This glorious Saturday afternoon we will enter the new national Queer Cultural Center (SKOKS) by practicing what we preach: Spreading the magic of Queerness and offer the opportunity to meet a new friend, this amazing artist and person. Someone we have been wanting to work with for a very long time.

The show goes on Saturday, 3 June, 16:00 at the Karmaklubb* stand, and lasts for 25–45 minutes, most likely. Look for the green Claw. ↗︎ FB event here. More about SKOKS opening ↗︎ here. Look for the green Claw. FREE and open to all! Address: Sofienberg Church, Rathkes gate 18, Oslo.

Please note: We do not promise the finest sound quality; the church is one big space, and concerts, poetry readings, and speeches goes simultaneously. Besides, there’s a rave in the park outside during our conversation. However, what we do promise is that this is fun listening!!! *** AND HERE IT IS, THE GREATNESS!! ***

Word list / Further reading

• ↗︎ Harness
• ↗︎ Harness and flagging
• ↗︎ Queer signals
• ↗︎ Lillehammer, Norway
• ↗︎ Brighton, England
• ↗︎ trans
• ↗︎ cis
• ↗︎ straight

↓ See all 37 images

“Random selection of [amazing] stuff”, all courtesy of the Artist.

Appreciation and gratitude: All of you who showed up this Saturday afternoon!! What a beautiful gang, in the green neon corner by the Claw, next to the organ at Sofienberg Church — from now on the Queer Cultural Center / Skeivt kunst- og kultursenter (SKOKS). Thank you, dear Finch Honeker of Below the Belt. Iver for driving and being part of the travel. — More of that leatherporn and gorgeous handcraft body-jewellery, please! This was indeed thought & pleasure. Think it’s not an exaggeration to say that we are all starstruck. (Finch: Please do your best to make so that the ↗︎ Trans Kink Zine gets a vol. 2!) A lot of warmth to ↗︎ Julie Lauritzen for helping out with documentation; to Nilz & Otto Grafisk AS and Master Maylen for printporn — as always just perfect, done with skills and passion. A special one for Martine Johansen at MELK and SKOKS; this would not have happened without you. Also, much love to the rest of the kind SKOKS team, caring, carrying and helping out. Some selected Karmaklubb* things will from now on be available in the SKOKS bookstore.