Photography Flo Bass

On a small island between Greece and Turkey sits Lesbos or Lesvos, the birthplace of the legendary poet Sappho. Though much of her work is lost, the surviving fragments are filled with passionate verses about love and longing for other women, which led to her name becoming synonymous with same-sex attraction.

Her legacy still lingers in Lesbos, drawing queer women back year after year, as photographer Flo Bass puts it, “Sappho’s presence is felt everywhere on the island, particularly in Skala Eresos.”

It is also home to what is lovingly known as Lesbian New Year, which takes place each summer and yes, I also wondered why I have never celebrated. This is where most of these images were taken and, to put it simply, they radiate queer joy.

Bass first fell in love with Lesbos through their mother, who has been returning to the island for years. She began documenting their own time there, focusing on the Skala Women’s Rock Group, a community who swim together each morning to Sappho’s rock and back, building lasting friendships while honouring the island’s history.

Here, Bass reflects on falling in love with the island, representing an expansive range of queer women through their work and Sappho’s enduring queer legacy in Lesbos. 

Can you share a bit about yourself and what inspires your work?

I’m Flo, a photographer and documentary filmmaker who specialises in telling female, non-binary and LGBTQ+ stories, with a focus on preserving narratives from queer and working-class communities. I’m drawn to stories that reveal how culture is carried through everyday rituals, and trying to find the humour and joy in that. Much of my work is rooted in places and people I’m closely connected to, particularly the queer community in Lesvos and the working class communities of central London.