Studio Rik Versteeg

MOVEMENT AS SURVIVAL⁠
⁠
Born stateless in Yarmouk, a Palestinian refugee camp in Damascus. He danced anyway.⁠
⁠
“Dance saved my life, but now it also gives my life meaning.”⁠
⁠
From a war zone to the world’s stages, Ahmad Joudeh turned movement into refusal — of erasure, of fear, of the idea that some bodies are not allowed to take up space. He tattooed DANCE OR DIE across his back before he ever left Syria. It was not a slogan. It was a decision.⁠
⁠
On q***r excellence, he says it plainly: the courage to exist fully in a world that asks you to shrink. Survival with dignity.⁠
⁠
Read the full story on our website⁠
⁠
Mag 2 is available for purchase, shipping globally from Barcelona.⁠
⁠
📍 Damascus, Syria⁠
Human: Ahmad Joudeh ⁠
Story: Levi Rodriguez ⁠
Photo & Concept: Studio Rik Versteeg ⁠
Styling: Pythia Chiara ⁠
Hair: Afif Shafit ⁠
Photography Assistant: Luca van Ruiten ⁠
Styling Assistant: ⁠
Arabic Translation: Ray Seferian ⁠
⁠
Lewks⁠
Rubber Dutch ,⁠
Herr Amsterdam .amsterdam,⁠
Mr Riegilio ⁠
Balenciaga

MOVEMENT AS SURVIVAL⁠
⁠
Born stateless in Yarmouk, a Palestinian refugee camp in Damascus. He danced anyway.⁠
⁠
“Dance saved my life, but now it also gives my life meaning.”⁠
⁠
From a war zone to the world’s stages, Ahmad Joudeh turned movement into refusal — of erasure, of fear, of the idea that some bodies are not allowed to take up space. He tattooed DANCE OR DIE across his back before he ever left Syria. It was not a slogan. It was a decision.⁠
⁠
On q***r excellence, he says it plainly: the courage to exist fully in a world that asks you to shrink. Survival with dignity.⁠
⁠
Read the full story on our website⁠
⁠
ICONIQA Mag 2 is available for purchase, shipping globally from Barcelona.⁠
⁠
📍 Damascus, Syria⁠
Human: Ahmad Joudeh ⁠
Story: Levi Rodriguez ⁠
Photo & Concept: Studio Rik Versteeg ⁠
Styling: Pythia Chiara ⁠
Hair: Afif Shafit ⁠
Photography Assistant: Luca van Ruiten ⁠
Styling Assistant: Joost Gimbel ⁠
Arabic Translation: Ray Seferian ⁠
⁠
Lewks⁠
Rubber Dutch ,⁠
Herr Amsterdam .amsterdam,⁠
Mr Riegilio ⁠
Balenciaga ⁠
⁠

Pride is still a protest.

It hurts to realize that so much of the acceptance we fought for over the past five years feels is being erased by growing anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and policies. Rights and acceptance are never guaranteed—they have to be defended, again and again.

Being with David Sadi for the past nine years has taught me more about myself than I ever imagined. He taught me that I don’t have to hide who I am, that my identity isn’t something to be ashamed of, and that love deserves to be lived openly, not quietly.

I’ve learned to embrace who I am, but the work isn’t done. There are still moments when I hide parts of myself. Moments when I make myself smaller because it feels safer. That’s the reality for so many of us, and it’s exactly why Pride still matters.

Pride isn’t just about celebrating how far we’ve come. It’s about making sure no one feels they have to hide who they are. It’s about protecting the progress we’ve made and standing together with everyone whose identity, love, or existence is still being challenged.

To everyone who feels less safe, less seen, or less accepted today: you are not alone. We’ll keep showing up, keep loving, and keep fighting for a world where no one has to choose between being themselves and feeling safe.

Happy Pride. 🏳️‍🌈❤️

***r

MOVEMENT AS SURVIVAL⁠
⁠
Born stateless in Yarmouk, a Palestinian refugee camp in Damascus. He danced anyway.⁠
⁠
“Dance saved my life, but now it also gives my life meaning.”⁠
⁠
From a war zone to the world’s stages, Ahmad Joudeh turned movement into refusal — of erasure, of fear, of the idea that some bodies are not allowed to take up space. He tattooed DANCE OR DIE across his back before he ever left Syria. It was not a slogan. It was a decision.⁠
⁠
On q***r excellence, he says it plainly: the courage to exist fully in a world that asks you to shrink. Survival with dignity.⁠
⁠
Read the full story on our website⁠
⁠
ICONIQA Mag 2 is available for purchase, shipping globally from Barcelona.⁠
⁠
📍 Damascus, Syria⁠
Human: Ahmad Joudeh Ahmad Joudeh⁠
Story: Levi Rodriguez levi rodriguez ⁠
Photo & Concept: Studio Rik Versteeg Studio Rik Versteeg Q***r Visual Artist ⁠
Styling: Pythia Chiara Pythia Tarenskeen ⁠
Hair: Afif Shafit Afif Shafit Creative ⁠
Photography Assistant: Luca van Ruiten Luca van Ruiten ⁠
Styling Assistant: Joost Gimbel ⁠
Arabic Translation: Ray Seferian Ray ガロ Seferian⁠
⁠
Lewks⁠
Rubber Dutch RubberDutch,⁠
Herr Amsterdam HERR,⁠
Mr Riegilio MR. Riegillio⁠
Balenciaga Balenciaga⁠
⁠

💥Movement as Survival💥⁠ - ⁠
Editorial Issue 2 ⁠
⁠
For Joudeh, art and activism are inseparable. To exist openly is alreay political in many parts of the world. Visibility, then, becomes responsibility. If his work can create empathy, challenge prejudice, or make someone feel less alone, it belongs to something larger than performance.⁠
⁠
"Q***r excellence, to him, is not simply achievement. It is the courage to exist fully in a worlds that asks you to shrink".⁠
⁠
and I teamed up to create this special editorial, on dance, survival, strength, and being. ⁠
⁠
TEAM:⁠
📸 Photography: ⁠
🎤 Icon & Talent: ⁠
💄 Make-Up: ⁠
👗 Styling: ⁠
📷 Photography Assistants: ⁠
💅 Styling Assistant: ⁠
👖 Look: @ herr.amsterdam
⁠

🇪🇸

***r

📸 Studio Portrait during our first Analogue Photography and Darkroom course. 💥⁠
⁠

📸 We had a fantastic first course on analog photography and darkroom techniques! In just one day, we captured portraits on film, processed the film, and created prints in the darkroom. It was a busy yet incredibly enjoyable day! 📸⁠
⁠
Interested in participating in our upcoming masterclass? ⁠
It’s scheduled for October 3rd. ⁠
⁠
You can register via the link in our bio. ⁠
💥⁠
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