In a world obsessed with labels, Sedami Gracia Elvis Theodor Ophelia has no interest in fitting into anyone’s box. Known to some as kursiv_ or Ophelia Laveaux 007 in the ballroom scene, Sedami moves fluidly between artistic mediums—photography, music, and performance—documenting not just what’s around them, but the kind of self-reflection that makes you pause and think. At 26, this multidisciplinary artist, DJ, and producer is living and creating in Berlin, pouring their experiences into everything they do.

In our conversation, Sedami opens up about their creative journey, marked by moments of discovery, the essential role of community, and the quiet resistance that fuels their art. Through their words, we don’t just see Sedami's world—we feel how they’re creating space for others to live more authentically, too. It’s art, it’s life, and it’s a statement about what happens when you refuse to be anything but yourself.

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

My name is Sedami Gracia Elvis Theodor Ophelia. Some people know me as kursiv_ or as Ophelia Laveaux 007 in Ballroom. I study photography with a focus on documentary. Besides that I'm a multidisciplinary artist, a Dj and a Producer. I’m 26 and currently I’m living in Berlin. 

Can you describe how you first began to understand and explore your sexuality growing up?

I was 8 years old when it clicked the first time. I remember sitting there, watching a 1985 interview with Grace Jones on TV. She spoke with such self-confidence about feeling both masculine and feminine, about her sexuality, and it was like finally someone understands me and I felt seen. I had always known deep down that I wasn’t cis or straight, but seeing her owning it despite the interviewer trying to force her to label herself was beautiful to watch and empowering to me because it gave me the courage to explore more about myself.

How did societal or cultural expectations around gender and sexuality impact your journey of self-discovery?

My family comes from Benin and Togo, where the ideas of gender and sexuality feel worlds apart from what we get taught here in Europe. Growing up, it sometimes felt like I was caught in the middle because both sides expected different things about how I “should” express myself. By the time I hit 12 or 13, I started to rebel against all those projections. I realized there’s so much more than this binary box we’re so often forced into. It wasn’t just about challenging the norms around me—it was about my own journey, my well-being, and discovering who I am without the influence from different cultural expectations. 

How would you describe yourself as creative? 

Most of my work is rooted in self-reflection and self-discovery, shaped by my reality as a Black non-binary person navigating and surviving in a cis, white, anti-Black violent world. My gender, my class, my sexuality, my race are always present in my daily life and influencing how I create. Honestly, I’ve never asked myself  “How do I see myself as creative?” because there are far bigger questions on my mind and in general to ask.

When I asked how you describe yourself as a creative, you mentioned that you haven’t had much time to reflect on it, as there are bigger questions on your mind. Could you share more about what some of those bigger questions are?

We’re living through multiple genocides and seeing how most of the art world is either way silent because they are scared to lose their opportunities and money or actively attacking those who speak out. Specific seeing how the situation is in Germany, a country that is directly complicit in the Genocide against the People of Palestine and their land. Seeing what kind of repressions, censorship and violence people get for speaking the truth is very concerning because I don’t want to be in a community with people who don’t see my life as worth it because I don’t bow down to their White western rules.

The real questions artists should question themselves is if they’re okay being complicit in making fascism more socially acceptable and normalizing it or rejecting the normalizing and speaking up and supporting the communities who are suffering right now. One thing I can say for sure is that I'm not creating for the White gaze and never will.

Can you recall a time when you faced significant challenges in expressing your true self? 

My late teenage years were tough. As I started unpacking so many things, I also began medical transitioning for a while, and people didn’t get it. Some didn’t understand, and others, well, they were downright transphobic. But what kept me strong to keep going, was the sisterhood I found. There’s something so powerful about connecting with other trans people who just get the reality you're facing. Also Art helped me a lot during that time because I used the frustration and anger I was carrying with me to create something vulnerable and beautiful out of it.

Were there any specific turning points in your journey that allowed you to more fully embrace your sexuality and identity?

Moving away from where I grew up was an important turning point and a necessary step for my journey because I couldn’t keep staying at a place where I am not welcomed. It took me years to find a place where I could truly express myself, where I didn’t feel like I had to hide or hold back. After living in Amsterdam, Bielefeld, Düsseldorf and Paris right now, Berlin feels like that place I can call “home“. It’s where I feel the most comfortable right now even though the Political situation here makes things harder for everybody who is not aligning with the German Staatsräson.

How do you use fashion as a tool to address, and challenge societal norms around sexuality and identity?

Honestly, I just wear what I want because, at the end of the day, I’m dressing for myself to feel good, confident, and to have fun. There’s something so playful about mixing different pieces and creating something new out of it. It’s always a little adventure. Sure, it confuses people sometimes. They want to put everything into these neat little “male” or “female” boxes, and I’m just like, Who gives a fuck? People really limit themselves when they don’t dress how they feel—whether it’s to impress someone, to fit in, or to be the next “it” person and most of the time you can tell when it's a costume or themselves.

For me, it’s about creative freedom that goes beyond many boundaries that are made up.

Do you see lingerie or underwear as a medium for challenging or redefining traditional notions of gender, intimacy, or sexuality? How has this influenced your relationship with your body or others?

I see underwear as an important medium to redefine things—gender, sexuality, expression. But let’s be real, most people aren’t there yet. It’s hard for them to imagine anything beyond the cis, heteronormative ideas they’ve grown up with. I think it’ll take another 5 to 10 years, kind of like how the whole vintage Y2K trend made its return for the third time even though a lot of the stuff is not Y2K or vintage. 

In the meantime, I like to get creative with my own underwear. Most of the pieces I own, I’ve modified to fit my style. I’ve embroidered The Garden of Earthly Delights on a pair, and I’ve bleached a bunch of my black ones because why not? It’s about making something that feels sexy and true to me, and at the end of the day, that’s what matters most.

Looking back on your journey, what advice would you give to someone struggling to reconcile their identity with societal norms?

My advice? Stop giving a fuck about what people are saying or thinking. Like seriously who gives a fuck? And why is the opinion of people who don’t know you so important? Beside that staying true to yourself, be authentic, and keep learning—read, explore, grow. But most importantly, take care of yourself and the people you love. At the end of the day, it’s your community, your chosen family, that’s going to carry you through this already unfolding violent capitalist hell. 

How do you continue to evolve in your relationship with identity, intimacy, and self-expression today?

Keep unlearning and grow. It's a lifelong process and I’m excited to see where it’s going. Beside that, picking up new skills and sharing what I learned with people because gatekeeping knowledge is lame to me. Obviously I won’t stop creating art like that’s a long committed relationship for life and I’m excited to discover more unknown territories there.


Photography:
Pascal Schrattenecker