Digital Soirées II Through the Borders - Spaces of Respite

Tandile Mbatsha - Cat Jugravu - Mike Ayvazian

In the realm of contemporary performative and theatrical arts and education, Digital Soirées II embarks on an exploration of the multifaceted politics surrounding the queer body and identity within the context of exile. We understand gender diverse individuals as a people who are in a constant state of exile, the Borderland. By merely rejecting the idea of a fixed and stable body, by embracing the queer body, a site of constant transformation and experimentation, by prioritizing our experience and expression of self over the demands of the cis-normative model. We are physically, emotionally and socio-culturally exiled from our countries, homes, indigeneity, healthcare et cetera. This curatorial journey unfolds within the backdrop of the recent global socio-political deteriorations, scapegoating, and gatekeeping of diversity and equity that have undeniably shaped the intricate narratives and lived experiences of gender diverse individuals.

In Europe, the advent of the modern capitalist system, forged through the transition from feudalism, has had a lasting impact on the collective consciousness surrounding identity. This transformative era, often characterized by the commodification and dissection of the human body, initiated a complex interplay of power dynamics and societal constructs. Within this basic framework, the enforcement of a rigid gender binary emerged as a defining feature, bolstered by mechanisms such as socio-cultural gatekeeping and systemic persecutions at the expense of indivi(duality) and freedom.

The unfortunate consequences of this historical juncture undoubtedly echo persistently in the contemporary discourse on queer and trans* identities in the context of exile. While in many countries sexual orientations other than heterosexual are acknowledged, accepted, and respected, in some other countries this is still an issue. In 71 countries worldwide, being homosexual is, in fact, more than just an issue, it is a crime. Most of these countries are in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. In 11 countries, the death penalty is imposed, or is at least a possibility, for same-sex sexual activity. Within this paradigm, performative and theatrical arts emerge as potent strategies for queer individuals to navigate the intricate maze of their identities while inhabiting spaces of exile. These expressive mediums furnish a nuanced platform for the negotiation of agency, self-expression, and a profound sense of belonging in new and often unwelcoming societies, frequently marked by uncompromising norms of integration.

We are thinking through queer resistance what Gloria Anzaldúa, a Chicana queer feminist, termed borderlands, essentially questioning what is a border? Questioning the nature of borders? Are they fixed, natural, malleable, and generative? Why were they created, by whom? What is the experience of queerness trans-nationally, because of borders? What are the implications and ramifications of these borders? We believe that there’s a plethora of ways we experience borders such as geography, sociopolitical, socioeconomically, socio-culturally, and otherwise.

artists

AUN HELDEN + WILLOW WILHELM + ANGEL-HO + ANISSA KRANA + RAPHAEL AMAHL KOURI + NICKY MILLER + JOSHUA LEE MCKAIN-CARNES + SEKHMET | DARDAN HOTI + PAOLA-YO WOLF + THE DARVISH + VA-BENE ELIKEM FIATSI

with financial support from the Institute for Equality and Gender Studies Mozarteum University

organised & hosted

This exploration further encompasses an examination of the oppressive realities faced by queer dissidents across various global regions, spanning from the Global North to the Global South. Locals such as Ghana, Lebanon, the United States, Hungary, and Russia, among others, bear witness to persistent institutionalized discrimination and persecution. Such oppressive conditions impel individuals to seek refuge beyond the borders of their homeland. In response to these adversities, queer artists, with unwavering resilience, employ performative and theatrical arts as an instrument of self-expression within the context of their exile.

The Digital Soirées II embrace the intersection of queer body, identity and exile within the realm of performative and theatrical arts as an evolving and dynamic discourse. It offers a generative opportunity to challenge historical constructs, engage with contemporary complexities, and explore the multifaceted dimensions of human existence in a continually changing world.