Emil Cañita

Emil Cañita (he/she/they) is a trans Filipino-Australian sex worker, HIV advocate, and artist living in Naarm.Their practice explores the politics of representation, appropriation, and sex. Known for their glory hole–based work, one of Emil’s key interests is in representing the diversity of men who engage in sex work. Deeply committed to honouring the cultural legacy and aesthetics of queer artists throughout history, Emil draws inspiration for their debut solo exhibition at MARS Gallery, ‘At First I was Afraid,’ from one of their mentors and greatest influences: Chinese-Australian storyteller and artist William Yang. As someone who is HIV-undetectable and a sex worker, Emil is passionate about portraying people living with HIV as full human beings — with sexual agency, dignity, and the right to be seen. With effective HIV treatment, people living with HIV can become undetectable, meaning there is zero risk of passing on the virus to sexual partners. Emil’s practice is a testament to the truth that people living with HIV are among the safest you can now have sex with.Their work is a love letter to the brilliant HIV advocates and artists who came before them — and to all the sexual partners who have kept them safe, offered gender-affirming care, and loved them as they are.