For a long time, trans lives and people have been near invisible in their representation and quieted in their story-telling.

Although magazines like ours have begun to address trans rights and to give a platform to the trans narrative, this is still relatively rare.

Either skimmed over, mocked or held up as an alien extreme, traditional narratives and depictions of trans experience have lacked depth and authenticity for a while.

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Laverne Cox

Recently, however, TV shows like Transparent, films like The Danish Girl and public figures like Laverne Cox have brought a newfound visibility and understanding to some trans experiences.

That being said, much of the story is still untold and that is where Fashion Space Gallery's new exhibition comes in.

The Museum of Transology Exhibition, 'is the largest and boldest display of trans artefacts and photographic portraiture ever displayed in the UK,' according to the exhibition's own website.

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'This highly intimate exhibition will challenge the idea that gender is fixed, binary and biologically determined by exploring how the artefacts helped fashion self-shaped gender identities,' the website explains.

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Grayson Perry

On display will be photography by Bharat Sikka and Sharon Kilgannon, My Genderation films by Fox Fisher and Lewis Hancox, Sexing the Transman andMr Angel documentaries by adult film star Buck Angel, behind the scenes footage from Born Risky by Grayson Perry.

Personal objects, tagged with descriptions, have also been donated to the project.

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A binder from Museum of Transology

Some objects are practical items used when changing gender, like this binder (above) and these hormones (below).

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Hormones from Museum of Transology

There are some more sentimental items, such as these gender neutral socks.

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A sock from Museum of Transology

Some of the items also point to a darker, more troubling side of trans experience which centres around the mental health issues like body dysphoria, depression and anxiety many trans people have and how they deal with it.

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A toy from Museum of Transology

The tag on the toy reads, 'Immersing myself in My Little Pony is how I manage Dysphoria'.

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A toy from Museum of Transology

According to Buzzfeed, the UK is an okay place to be transexual, since only 8% of people are completely against legal sex changes (compare that to 24% of people in the US).

But it still isn't great.

Ignorance is rife and, according to The Guardian, half of young transgender people have attempted suicide.

Hopefully this exhibition will be a small step in the long road of trans education and eventual acceptance.

Museum of Transology will be running from 20th Jan - 22nd April at Fashion Space Gallery in London.

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Daisy Murray
Digital Fashion Editor

Daisy Murray is the Digital Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, spotlighting emerging designers, sustainable shopping, and celebrity style. Since joining in 2016 as an editorial intern, Daisy has run the gamut of fashion journalism - interviewing Molly Goddard backstage at London Fashion Week, investigating the power of androgynous dressing and celebrating the joys of vintage shopping.