Unlike a traditional publication, FLIP FLOP doesn’t have a front or back. Instead, each artist was given one half of the book, allowing readers to start from either side before both bodies of work converge at the center.
The publication combines analog photography, collage, drawings, and original text created specifically for the project. The featured images were produced across London, Paris, Berlin, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Mexico City, reflecting a global portrait of queer life through two distinct artistic lenses.
A Zine With Two Perspectives
What makes FLIP FLOP especially compelling is the tactile quality of its design. The pages carry the charm of an old scrapbook, layering analog photography with handwritten notes, torn paper textures, cropped magazine imagery, and collage elements that evoke the DIY queer publications of the pre-2000s. That nostalgic aesthetic doesn’t feel like an exercise in looking backward. Instead, it reinforces the intimacy of the work, making each spread feel discovered rather than manufactured.
That retro sensibility also creates an intriguing contrast with the imagery itself. The sensual portraits are unapologetically erotic, yet they’re framed by visual references that hint at protest, politics, and queer history. The result is a body of work that feels both liberating and reflective, a reminder that queer sexuality has long existed alongside resistance, and that the freedom celebrated throughout FLIP FLOP didn’t emerge without a fight.
Together, Mogutin and Raptor blur the boundaries between photography, collage, documentary, and personal storytelling, creating a visual conversation that’s as emotionally layered as it is visually striking.
Celebrating Queer Desire Through Art
Few contemporary artists have chronicled queer identity with the same fearless perspective as Mogutin. Longtime Gayety readers may remember our previous coverage of the multidisciplinary artist, who became the first journalist granted political asylum in the United States because of homophobic persecution.
His latest collaboration with Raptor continues that commitment to challenging convention while centering queer experiences.
Rather than presenting sexuality as something hidden or restrained, FLIP FLOP approaches it as a source of creativity and connection. Photography blends with collage and illustration to create a visual narrative that feels intimate, playful, and unapologetically queer.
The finished work blurs the boundaries between fine art, documentary photography, and personal storytelling, inviting readers to experience each page from multiple perspectives.
Only 200 Copies Will Be Available
If the preview images are any indication, FLIP FLOP offers far more than a quick flip-through. Across 62 pages, the artists assemble an expansive collection of original artwork that rewards repeat viewing.
Collectors won’t have much time to decide. Bona Varda has produced just 200 signed and numbered editions, making the release especially appealing for fans of contemporary queer photography and independent publishing.
London Events Celebrate The Launch
Readers in London will have two opportunities to meet the artists during the zine’s release week.
The first is a launch party and signing at Libreria Bookshop on Aug. 6. A second event follows on Aug. 12, when Mogutin and Raptor will participate in an artist talk at STÜCK Space, moderated by Dominic Johnson.
Both events offer an opportunity to hear directly from the collaborators about the ideas behind the project and their creative process.
Where To Find ‘FLIP FLOP’
Fans interested in adding FLIP FLOP to their collection can order a signed copy directly from Bona Varda while supplies last.
To keep up with future projects, readers can also follow Slava Mogutin and Oli Raptor on Instagram.
