Vivek Shraya

Store

even this page is white

“for anyone who has lost / a friend / from saying the word / race”

Vivek’s debut collection of poetry, a bold and timely interrogation of skin—its origins, functions and limitations. More info »

God Loves Hair

An illustration of a pair of scissors with brightly-coloured handles descending into a flurry of black locks, with the text “GOD LOVES HAIR: Stories by Vivek Shraya. Artwork by Juliana Neufeld.”

Twenty-one short stories follow a tender and curious child as he navigates complex realms of sexuality, gender, racial politics, religion and belonging. More info »

What I LOVE about being QUEER

A 6×13 photo mosaic of smiling faces, crossed by a grey banner with bold white text: “What I LOVE about being QUEER.”"

Personal use

34 beautiful queers. One big question. More info »

A portion of the proceeds from What I LOVE about being QUEER will be donated to the SOY program.

  Institutional use†

† The “Institutional use” licence is for organizations like universities and libraries that intend to publicly exhibit the film. The cost includes a flat screening fee and the right to show the film an unlimited number of times. The “Personal use” licence is for individuals, and grants only the right to screen the film privately.

What I LOVE about being QUEER was created by an independent artist with an independent budget. Production costs for the film are being recouped largely through sale to organizations with funding for such purposes.

Please support self-funded Canadian filmmaking!

1:1

A grainy blue-tinged photo of a person with short-cropped hair silhouetted against a lake, looking over her shoulder into the camera.

January 16, 2011: The darkness hasn’t fully passed. And that’s ok for now. I will write a song about it, all of it. Every pull, every ache, I will work it out through lyric and melody until there is light again. Music might save me. More info »

Keys & Machines

A black-and-white photo of various keys under bold white text: KEYS & MACHINES. VIVEK SHRAYA.

Brattier, boomier, and bassier, nine songs produced by Meghan Toohey. Inspired by late-night Paris clubs and the broken spaces in relationships. More info »

If We’re Not Talking (single)

A person’s head in profile and the turned-up collar of their black coat against silhouettes of electrical transmission towers and a wash of blue and purple paint, with scribbled purple and black letters: “Vivek Shraya. If We’re Not Talking.”

Featuring remixes by Rodion and Ben Mono. More info »

If We’re Not Talking

A brown-skinned person against a white background, listening to a tin-can telephone. The “cord” from the can turns into scribbled letters against a wash of blue and purple paint: “Vivek Shraya. If We’re Not Talking.”

Sexy electro-rock in the vein of Goldfrapp, Prince and PJ Harvey, masterfully produced by Meghan Toohey. Features Sara Quin on “Your Name.” More info »

A Composite of Straight Lines

A seated person looking back over their shoulder. The only colour is the bright red stripes of their shirt; the rest of the photo is high-contrast black-and-white, and cropped just above their mouth. White text with red accent: “Vivek Shraya. A Composite of Straight Lines.”

A bright and spacious wash of organs, acoustic guitars, and tambourines, with guest vocals on “The Alphabet” by Tegan Quin of Tegan and Sara. More info »