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The ‘Exploration - The Supernatural and Occult in Queer Spaces’
Exploration - The supernatural and Occult in Queer spaces is a poster zine focused on exploring the LGBTQIA+ sexual space and the exploration of peoples sexuality in different settings. Each page is a different person exploring sex and sexuality and features a supernatural humanoid queer people relate too.
By the end of 2027 Ethereal hopes to create another zine inspired by ‘Exploration’ with even more sexualities represented and given a chance to explore their love. He hopes to one day create a collaberative version with illustrations, stories and poetry all in the same theme and make it available for print and purchase alongside this zine.
Ethereal’s comments on the Zine:
Growing up queer and trans was hard in so many ways. Not quite understanding why I could be attracted to men, women and non-binary folks but others weren’t. Not understanding why being called ‘gay’ was bad.
Not understanding why people would laugh at me when I wanted to be masculine and seen as a man. Not understanding why I wanted to explore with people of all genders as a young pansexual and not understanding why people drawing representations of these relationships were bad. I’ve always had this take on drawing work deemed ‘NSFW’ be it nudity or gore, or body horror: ‘It doesn’t matter. It’s human bodies. Human experiences. People should be allowed to explore so long as they aren’t hurting themselves, others, or forcing ideas and ideals onto people. It doesn’t matter in the end. Life is too short.’
That’s why when making this zine, I don’t want to cover up and hide the experiences. I want to make a zine that clearly shows people discovering who they are, what they want and like, and what life they want to lead.
This zine won’t just be about discovering your sexuality. It’s also about discovering what you want out of life and discovering the partners you want. Discovering who you want to share your life with and intimate moments. Discovering a different side to artwork that is deemed taboo. This zine will allow people to discover that through art and tell them it’s okay. It’s okay to explore with yourself. It’s okay to safely explore kinks. It’s okay to be yourself and love who you want.
Every single queer person I know has found themselves relating to a creature like a vampire, sucubus, or monster at some point in their life.
Some fellow trans men feel like a changling having to switch between who they are and who society wants them to be.
One of my bisexual friends is drawn to the innate sexual nature of a vampire who loves without descrimination but can only show it when their family aren’t looking.
Some feel like ghosts after being shunned from family due to who they love.
We all relate to supernatural creatures for our own reasons and that’s okay. There is a community of monsters here who love you.
Poster
The poster design. A trans-male angel finally free to explore his sexuality and gender identity surrounded by an eldritch being, a saytr and vampire.Representing transgender (FTM) and pansexuality
A transgender (ftm) demon in a tied BDSM situation in a moment of euphoria. Represents transgender men, BDSM as an exploration for sexuality and freedom to be queer. Represents Unlabled queer people.
A human male and Minotaur male in a club bathroom. Clubs are a common place for queer people to feel safe enough to express their sexuality and find others like them. Represents gay (mlm) relationships.
(Inspired by two of my original characters) An AMAB non-binary angel and cis-male demon exploring sex in a different way and allowing themselves to enjoy the moment.
A female human and female werewolf with a strap. Representing wlw women and relationships without needing one to be feminine and another masculine. Representing sapphic relationships.
A female transgender woman exploring her body in a positive light. Representing transgender expression and femininity for transwomen with a highlight on self-love.
A POC blind female gorgon, male vampire and female mermaid in a wheelchair representing polyamory, pansexuality, bisexuality and love between disabled and non-disabled people. As someone who uses a cane and is an ambulatory wheelchair user this was important for me to include.
Two cis males, one human and one a vampire, kissing and representing love despite flaws and the concept of needs being met in relationships.
An asexual non-binary/genderfluid vampire representing asexuality and self love without the need for sex or intimacy. It felt important to include as not all people need sex, some are sex repulsed and some still engage in sexual activity even if they have no desire.