state of me

performance, film, publication | 2018

State of me is commissioned by ALMANAC projects. It investigates the ambivalent body of ‘the state’ in places of transit, surveillance and control when it meets transgender bodies. The project consist of intimate one on one conversations, a workshop and a performance. We exchanged and processed our experiences on this subject and searched for collective healing.

I. Based our own and collected experiences with border security, we choreographed a dance that introduces police and military training-methods into voguing. We combined poses of restrain and queer empowering movements to reclaim our body and to allow an ambivalent play of desire, power and submission to arise from our agency. The choreography was performed by Malik Nashad Sharpe.

II. Plane of love: a folding plane to educate and to share love and hope as a method for selfcare and a strategy for healing collectively. The work is a result of intimate exchanges of trans experiences with Schiphol Airport security. The folding plane was made with brother D, who was held at Schiphol detention for several months

III. Yellow rose: during a small workshop, we made an inventory of all the things we desire & need from ourselves and our surroundings for nourishment and emancipation. The list is translated into a video-message, and was performed by Victoria Gigante.

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