Outsiders In Berlin, 2023
Outsiders in Berlin seeks to center and unpack consent in the form of movement/the absence of autonomy, counter the ideals of Völkerschauen, & discuss what it means to be viewed and consumed without acquiescence. All with a focus on how Black transmasculine individuals navigate space in Berlin.
Programming took place over the course of two days: July 8th 2023 will include the screening of films by Jota Ramos & SJ Rahatoka, along with an artist discussion and conversation. July 9th 2023 will include performances by Kalil Bat & Bishop Black whose movements will center on the notion of questioning consent, & objectification, all while navigating black masculinity within queer Berlin society.
Questions to consider:
Whose bodies are relegated to the perpetual state of being viewed? How does consent operate in this dynamic?
How can we reposition this dynamic?
How are Black Queer spaces being utilized to specifically address the lack of visibility for Black Trans Masc individuals living in Berlin?
How can we increase the development of safer and more visible spaces to exist here in Berlin?
How does autonomy function today when dealing with a history predicated on its absence?
How are we addressing our own personal biases, & misogyny when sharing space/ interacting with the black trans-masculine community?
Reclaiming Performance: A Reverence of Self, 2022
This curation reflects the raw work that takes place when moving from an honest center, surrounded by community. Here is a reclaiming of narrative & archival stories as it relates to Black Trans Masculinity. These performances highlight Black Trans Masc and Non-Binary bodies moving in a way that honors autonomy, internal & external desires, legacy, and culture. In this space, you are required to hold reverence for each performer as they hold it for themselves. This is the act of holding each other in community. To appreciate our ability to identify and operate in expansive ways, means to understand limitations within our community’s past & present that dictates what our individuality should look like. I see the complexities in our existence even as we are confined to performing in ways that are aligned with heteronormative ideals and standards. To engage with our bodies and others in ways that operate outside of these norms, is liberation & reconstructs the notion of identity and how it can be expressed.
