16-24 May 2024
Opening Thursday, May 16th from 7PM to 10PM
Exhibition hours Tuesday to Sunday from 4PM to 8PM
(Monday closed)
Finisage during Hoogtij #77, Friday, May 24th from 7PM to 23 PM
Queer Leiden University, QLU, presents their second exhibition, “The Queer Geobacter”, where thirteen queer artists explore this year’s theme through various mediums. With works by Braidon Hobzek, Fester Vogels, Erik Peters, Mila Narjollet, Rizq Naherta, Ipek Şahin, Shana de Villiers, Bel McLaughlin and Tehani Amarasuriya, Gabriel Kolesar, Vanda Vlasic, Sadie Girigorie, Lukas Vonk, and Juli Jaworski.
The Geobacter, which the exhibition’s title derives from, is a microbial species that has evolved to be able to eat and digest toxic waste in radioactive environments. QLU proposes a metaphorical approach to this exchange to encourage conversations about how practices of consumption relate to queer survival. Exploring the concept of the queer Geobacter to think about how queer people can learn to adapt, digest and find substance and fullness amidst difficult conditions or in situations of political dyspepsia.
With thanks to the JEDI Fund for Justice, Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity 🏳️🌈
Program
Opening | Thursday, May 16th:
20:00-20:15 Symbiotic Intuition (performance) Bel McLaughlin & Tehani Amarasuriya
throughout the evening:
Disgust Bar – performance by Gabriel Kolesar
Project ITC – installation-performance by Rizq Naherta
Friday, May 17th:
17:00-19:00 Soft Life Felting (workshop) Kat Cosgrove
Wool craft is an ancient practice, our relationship with wool as a material goes back thousands of years. Although historically the wool industry was traditionally dominated by men, wool craft has been reframed as a domestic feminine activity; it has also become a vital mode of queer joy and collectivity, as queer crafting circles boom. Crafting with wool is an enjoyable stress-relieving activity; the combination of the flow state entered when using needle-felting techniques and working with soft wool has calming benefits for the nervous system. It can provide a much-needed softness in our sometimes challenging everyday routines. Using Ethically sourced wool, together we will learn how to shape and create a wool bacterium using felting techniques (as well as a little history about woolcraft) which you can take home at the end of the session! Whether you are a felting novice or a seasoned pro, we will share knowledge and skills together.
Saturday, May 18th:
16:30-18:30 Queer Botany (conversation & plant swap) Dr. Steven Lauritano
Experience the “strange, lurid, almost reptilian” world of orchids, a botanical family described by artist Star Feliz as “the most beloved freaks of the forest.” Together, we will explore the importance of these plants as emblems and embodiments of queerness. Art historian Steven Lauritano will share the story of Charles Darwin’s encounter with Catasetum macrocarpum, a variety of orchid that led the scientist to question his very concept of “species.” Then we will delve deeper into these themes by reading aloud excerpts from Whitney Davis’s text on Queer Beauty. Finally, we will open the conversation, inviting questions and sharing stories related to queer flowers, “plant gays” (both historical and contemporary), and other varieties of expression rooted in the “self-renewing generativeness” of nature.
Additionally, participants are encouraged to bring their favourite plant with them to the event. Following the conversation, we will facilitate a “cultivation exchange” / a plant swap for anyone interested in adding to their plant family. Reading materials will be provided on-site.
Sunday, May 19th:
15:00-20:00 QLU Community hangout
An alternative to (cop-filled) pride come join QLU for a community hangout. Bring snacks to share, games to play, or just your queer beautiful selves and good vibes.
Tuesday, May 21st:
15:00-20:00 Queer Clothing Swap
Hoogtij, Friday, May 24th:
16:00-22:00 Project ITC – Rizq Naherta
19:00-23:00 Disgust Bar – Gabriel Kolesar
Showcasing diverse mixed-media artworks by queer artists from various backgrounds, the exhibition features thought-provoking discussions to amplify queer voices, explore the nuanced aspects of reclaiming space, and platform the diverse experiences within the LGBTQIA+ community.
With this exhibition, QLU aims to honour the resilience of queer communities under difficult circumstances, while highlighting the internal processes of queer survival. By drawing inspiration from the remarkable adaptability of the Geobacter, QLU invites to explore the complexities of queer resistance and adaptability in the face of societal oppression.
Queer Leiden University – QLU creates a safe and inclusive space for the queer community. Its mission is to support young queer artists, celebrating their coming together and the beginning of the journey in bringing queer art and queer narratives into the renown art space that has long been dominated by cis-heteronormative groups.
See also:
Website Queer Leiden University
IG @queerleidenuniversity
