Projects
Queer male sex workers in Nairobi: an anthropological perspective
Project
Many sex workers in Kenya actively participate in research studies but seldom receive feedback on the outcomes from the researchers. Even if they do receive feedback, understanding the results can be challenging due to the use of academic language and communication methods. To bridge this gap, Lise and RIVA collaborated to transform her research findings into comic strips. Lise shared these comics with her interlocutors in Nairobi, and the response was overwhelmingly positive. The participants expressed their appreciation for how the comics depicted their daily lives and experiences. They also took pride in contributing to the creation of the comics. Additionally, the participants found that the comics effectively conveyed academic messages in a straightforward and accessible manner. As a result, they encouraged other researchers to communicate their future research results using similar methods.
Client
The comics are based on Lise Woensdregt’s Phd research with queer male sex workers in Nairobi, Kenya. Lise is an Assistant Professor in the Sociology Department at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. She is interested in inclusive knowledge production, and uses co-creative research methodologies to study gender, (sex) work, community organizing, and the international development aid system.
Lise Woensdregt, Assistant Professor in the Sociology Department at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
I loved working with RIVA, since Till and Fiammetta helped me to translate my research findings into comics that spoke to my interlocutors, who felt they accurately depicted their lives and experiences. I also notice that the comics continue have a continued impact. I am currently designing a new research project with them, and they have already suggested that we should use comics as a way to disseminate the research findings!
Artist
Till was born on Valentines Day 1991 in Berlin, Germany. Since then he spent a lot of time drawing comics and studied first at the University of Arts in Berlin, then at the University of the West of England in Bristol. He is the author of 4 books which have been translated into a number of different languages. My first two books Tuff Ladies: 24 Remarkable Women of History and Dur*e*s à cuire present the lives of 110 interesting historical figures whilst his second book “Something in the Water” is a scientific adventure story that he wrote and drew for ERC Comics. The story deals with crystallography and the origins of life. His fourth book is a coming of age story capturing the everyday life of a German teenager. He won the first prize at the Ligatura Pitching and the second prize at the Fumetto Comics competition.
