Queer
Currents

22.06.2023 — 07.01.2024

The Amsterdam Museum hosts an exhibition titled “Gay Games ‘98: A Queer Retrospective” initiated by the LGBTQ Humans of Amsterdam photo and exhibition project, in collaboration with various stakeholders. The exhibition explores the Gay Games 1998, which put Amsterdam on the map as the Gay Capital of the world. However, LGBTQ+ individuals of color, transgender, non-binary, and intersex people were less visible in Dutch society at the time. The exhibition aims to seek and share these missing stories. Additionally, there will be various events and (Queer gaze-) guided tours during and after the Queer & Pride period.

On July 14. @nolimitsartcastle will become pink.

We give a big party for all the ‘Queer’ and the ‘Crip’, for everyone who doesn’t fit in the box of gender, sexuality, body or mind. We are all Pink on the spectrum!
This party is part of the expo opening “Pink On The Spectrum”, for which @alex.naber.940and @xochelseaboy are already collaborating for more then a year.

The party is organised with @despecialsocialclub and @body.amsterdam.

Other partners: @queer_amsterdam, @queeramsterdam_2023, @queercurrents and a extra special thanks to het Pijlfonds from @cultuurfonds to make this possible.

15.07.2023 — 24.09.2023

It’s OK… commoning uncertainties is a project that explores the act of making uncertainties common and telling diverse realities. The world we live in is shaped by global and local crises, leading to uncertainties that impact our daily lives. Increasingly, people feel excluded from the ways in which their everyday environment is shaped, governed, and financed, as well as from the so-called ‘successful’ futures projected onto them. It’s OK… takes place in the Oude Kerk, located in the De Wallen district, an area constantly contested in its current reality. Neighbors, visitors, tourists, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and stakeholders often have opposing desires, dreams, and needs. What does it mean to be or become common, with friction and contradictions?

Discover a captivating array of artworks from talented artists that reflect the diverse and vibrant queer community. Join us at the Queer Art Show as we celebrate the happiness, struggles, resilience, and sense of belonging among queer individuals.

21.07.2023 — 06.08.2023

“Coming Out” is about the chaos, heaviness, and conflicting feelings I experience going through processes of identity deconstruction and construction. With this exhibition, I want to invoke reflections and discussions about what identity means to us individually and for us as interconnected and interdependent beings. My work is set in the context I work and live in: a society driven by fear, that continues to reject anyone and anything that deviates from what is declared by the majority, or those in positions of power, as “right” and “normal”, and still silences voices that demand responsibility from those who cause harm.

About Annabelle Mclaren-Thomson

I am an emerging multidisciplinary artist, fascinated by how our past prevents us from perceiving and being in the present, and how fear and love determine our ability to let go of the past. Having grown-up in Germany, I moved to Scotland after school following my Scottish roots, where I studied, worked and lived until my early thirties. After finishing my PhD in Human Geography and working in academia for a couple of years, I moved to Mexico where I collaborated with pottery artists to document their processes and tell their stories. I arrived in Amsterdam about 5 years ago, worked in industry for a few years, and then started a research project to fight bias and discrimination in organisations.

As an artist, I examine the formation of identity through digital painting, animation, and text, focussing on the process of identity formation, and the construction of self as interdependent and interconnected with other beings and nature. I question the idea of “identity”; what it is, why I feel the need to have one, and why it defines my relationship with everything around me. I am interested in the interplay of reality, truth, and perception, and how their values are defined by my identity. An identity that may have been assigned to me without my consent.

21.07.2023 — 06.08.2023

2Heads is a series of charcoal drawings of two male heads to evoke a relationship, a connection between two men. I used pictures of individuals found on the internet, coupled them, and made a drawing of what I felt was compelling in how one man relates to another.

About Rob van Veggel As a child I always drew and painted often thus an education at the Art Academy in Tilburg was an obvious choice. However, after completing this training, I became interested in anthropology, with attention to art, now in a broader sense, material culture and semiotics. I eventually earned my PhD from the University of Chicago and chose a career where I applied my skills as a social researcher within creative processes to develop products, communication, and public policy from a consumer/user perspective. Gradually I returned to drawing, painting and sculpting, and art became again my main occupation.

Gradually, the portrait has become the most important theme in my work. A face is so complex in what it communicates, and portraiture shows this complexity. Initially I drew faces for their expressions which I called tronies (a term from 17th century Dutch art) and works like these 2Heads drawings I present here. Then I began aiming to depict an individual, mostly friends and family. I have always made self-portraits, and these self-portraits became explorations and expressions of my emotional states, lately one series based on David Bowie’s lyrics. In addition, I also like to draw, paint and sculpt male nudes to explore sexual attraction. And I draw and paint also for the pure pleasure of doing it, like palm trees, shells and recently octopuses.

21.07.2023 — 06.08.2023

Artistic Statement
A FEELING STRONGER THAN FEAR.
Notes from Pain(t), (M)ovement, and abstract.

I don’t know how I allowed one of them judging my gender and asking about my masculinity with no respect, and If I had to approve to anyone in this word that I’m trans. Why I allowed them making me feel that I’m the only source of harm and mistakes, without being accountable about how they treat me and isolate me and the psychological effect on my brain and mental health. Why I had to be forced to live in invisibility, while already I’m fighting for my existence and visibility every day. And when invisibility is an issue for me in such context as my exile and as holder of many identities that re systematically invisibilized . as queer, trans, Muslim, refugee, Moroccan and exceptional thinker and creator. I started crying for hours and hours till it got so dark, and only the brilliant stars hanged on the sky I walk to a refuge, I drank a beer, and I went to sleep sad and broken.

I had deep sleep as deserved. At 6am I wake up I cleaned up and shaved and I dressed well with, and I put on a t-shirt of PROUD. Because today will be a day of pride and pride only. I went to welcome the sun coming from her dark side of the world. But it was not only me waiting for her. But bunch of farmers and cows and I walked closer to her, and we had lovely conversation about life, healing and spirituality and motherhood. She told me that will start a week of fasting in the mountains to connect more with her body and mind. I told her with a closed eyes and smiley face that I’m starting a moment of fasting from shame, and radical anger but reclaiming the colours, the pride and rage as tools toward my liberation and mind peace, I hugged her, and I went to get my breakfast to start a new journey.

An old Dutch woman from the north of the Netherlands, with beautiful red hair made for me my breakfast, she was so happy to hear that I’m from Amsterdam and we had some shy conversations in Dutch telling me that she chose to live in the blue mountains for fourteen years. I was hearing with an open heart and when I finish my breakfast, she told me. Kenza there are two ways to get to Achensee, one is easy but not empty, and the difficult throw the huge mountain, its full of colours, and flowers and maybe you met animals, and a few mans, Trust me, you will remember it the rest of your life.

About Kenza Badi

Kenza Badi was born in Morocco in 1992. She is a painter, poet, writer, researcher, and comitted decolonial socialist. She engages with topics such as love, realism, and intersectionality from pro-working-class perspectives. Moroccan-Amazigh imaginations, working-class history, and arts. trans futurism and realism. Decoloniality and bodies, communities, and imaginations. She is the Founder of Marokkueer Zawya, an Amazigh queer diasporic organization based in the Netherlands that aims to facilitate social justice through the windows of ancestrality art and culture. Kenza’s writing and reflections were published in different languages such as English, Arabic, Korean, French, Italian, and Moroccan darija. She had lectures at different universities around Europe such as Leiden University, the University of Valencia, and the University of Nijmegen.

Kenza’s performed and exhibited in the Netherlands and internationally such as in New York, Tokyo, Berlin, Valencia, Marseille, Antwerp, and other European cities.

21.07.2023 — 06.08.2023

Welcome to the exhibition of Luki Haak’s thought-provoking work, titled “Das gefallene Schwein (The fallen swine)”. Luki Haak, a 27-year-old Photography student at the Academy of Fine Arts Leipzig, presents a profound exploration of their experience as a queer individual in a post-pinkwashed society that remains cis- and heteronormative.

Haak’s work delves into the reappropriation of the term “queer” and its inherent political radicality. In a world where the term has been heavily commercialized and capitalized upon, their artistic expression challenges this performative allyship, which fails to bring about real change for queer individuals. Often, empty gestures such as corporations adopting rainbow profile pictures on social media platforms only leave queer communities feeling marginalized and overlooked

With “Das gefallene Schwein,” Haak emphasizes the core essence of queerness as anti-capitalism. Through their artistic endeavors, they invite viewers to embrace the idea of being the “perverted pig” that society falsely perceives queer individuals to be. It is an invitation to overcome the shame that has been ingrained in queer people and to strive towards a society where all bodies and identities are accepted and celebrated.

Haak’s work manifests in various forms, ranging from sculptures to photographs and performances. Within the exhibition, visitors will encounter a compelling collection of pieces that collectively shed light on the struggle, resilience, and strength of the queer experience. Whether presenting the entire body of work or offering glimpses into its powerful narrative, Haak’s exhibition prompts reflection, dialogue, and a reevaluation of societal norms.

Join us as we engage with Luki Haak’s “Das gefallene Schwein (The fallen swine)” and explore the depths of queerness, challenging the status quo and envisioning a world where authenticity and acceptance prevail.

21.07.2023 — 06.08.2023

The exhibition consists of 12 ceramic plates displaying questions and illustrations related to belonging. The plates will be exhibited on a long table covered with a specially designed tablecloth. Answers to the questions, given in written form during the opening event, will be attached to the tablecloth using safety pins.

Asia Bordowa’s art revolves around the theme of belonging and the exploration of the complex dynamics that shape our sense of connection. Through her illustrations, ceramics, and community-oriented projects, she invites participants to engage in conversations and experiences that challenge conventional notions of belonging. Her work delves into the intersecting realms of identity, social justice, and personal narratives, aiming to foster a deeper understanding of the barriers that hinder true inclusivity.

About Asia Bordowa

Asia Bordowa, born in Warsaw, Poland, and currently based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, is a multidisciplinary artist, illustrator, ceramist, abortionist, somatic practitioner, and political activist. With a background in the anarchofeminist scene, Asia has been actively involved in queer feminist movements for over two decades. She channels her creativity through zines, illustrations, and pottery, using these mediums to share both personal and political stories.

Asia’s art serves as a catalyst for dialogue and reflection, challenging viewers to examine their own experiences of belonging and interrogate the societal systems that perpetuate exclusion and alienation. Her recent focus on pottery has allowed her to infuse political conversations into everyday objects, creating a tactile and thought-provoking experience for her audience.

Passionate about social justice, Asia not only uses her art as a form of self-expression but also as a means to support various initiatives fighting for equality. Her projects often center around communal gatherings, communal meals, and collaborative experiences, where participants can actively engage in conversations about belonging, identity, and the struggle against oppressive systems.

Through her thoughtfully crafted ceramics, Asia seeks to create spaces that inspire connection and empathy. She challenges us to rethink our relationships with others and the world around us, encouraging us to actively shape a more inclusive and compassionate society. Asia’s work reminds us that belonging is not a passive state but a continuous practice that requires empathy, understanding, and a commitment to dismantling oppressive structures.

21.07.2023 — 06.08.2023

Willemijn van Kempen, artist name Willemijn da Campo, a lesbian trans activist and artist, presents “A trans anthology series” 2015 - 2021. 6 negative relief portraits in plaster cast.

The portraits, titled “Anonymous”, after a photo by Diane Arbus, “Anohni”, singer/songwriter/artist, “Candy Darling”, artist/model/Andy Warhol superstar, “James”, young trans person drawing long hair on their photo, “Christine Jorgenson”, entertainer, “Reneé Richards”, professional tennis player, forming the trans anthology.

21.07.2023 — 06.08.2023

‘Will you bring change?’

Doubt and Belonging

“Expressing doubt is how we begin a journey to discover essential truths.”
-Kilroy J. Oldster

Doubt and Belonging; the first is a word that creates fear and uncertainty, the second is one that evokes a sense of wanting to be part of something or someone.

Doubt is certainly a feeling that most humans get to feel at any point on a daily basis, from the most trivial things (should I wear this dress or that one?), to more soul-searching quests (Is this career the right path for me?). Although there is a negative connotation associated with this word, it is in fact this feeling of questioning what can awaken feelings and truths that would otherwise remain dormant. Doubt is thus in a sense, a feeling that has the power of disruption, which in turn can lead to a rearrangement of the conscience and to growth, to rebirth and a new understanding of the world and of our place in it.

“Tomorrow belongs to those of us who conceive of it as belonging to everyone; who lend the best of ourselves to it, and with joy.”
-Audre Lorde

Belonging is in a sense, at the other end of the spectrum of doubt. To belong is to be fully embraced and be embraced, to be accepted and as an integral part of something, a group, a family, a project. In the hegemonic hetero-patriarcal society in which we live, carving a place in it to exist, but especially belonging is not something easy to achieve. There is always resistance to what deviates from the so-called “norm”.

For our 2023 program Queer Currents aims to bring the concepts of doubt and belonging together. We invite artists, activists, opinion-makers and all queer bodies and identities to work with us on how these two words affect your/our lives and bring out changes and new meanings to an ever more polarising world.

An embrace full of belonging and certainty

Queer Currents

22.07.2023 — 06.08.2023

Frank Bruggeman’s artistry has its origins in his fascination with plant life and the botanical world. As a designer of objects, installations and works for public spaces, Frank Bruggeman explores the dividing lines between nature and culture. Opinions on what exactly nature is and where culture begins often differ widely. Moreover, nature is a changeable concept. Prevailing ideas about nature are often very different from those of the past, but outdated concepts can have a very long life. It is still often difficult to draw the line between the two, just as a landscape that seems very natural may actually be the work of human hands.

This installation is part of the circle ‘Roots in the Oude Kerk. This circle, curated by curators Gijs Stork and Karolina Wargin, focuses on making unknown relationships in and around the Oude Kerk visible on the basis of the graves in the church. In conversations with people whose ancestors were buried in the Oude Kerk, or who now live at the addresses of these ancestors, space will be made for unexpected stories and transhistorical (connections).

Join us for the Pride Walk, one of the annual activist walks where you can show that you are part of our beautiful community. Even if you’re not queer but still want to participate as an ally, feel free to join us! We will walk from Dam Square to Museumplein, where the Queer Fest will take place. At Dam Square, the speakers on the mobile stage will inform, address, and energize the attendees. The organization will kick off the march at 1:00 PM, and we will walk together to Museumplein. Below you will find the route:

Starting from Dam Square, we will walk via Mozes en Aaronstraat - Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal - Raadhuisstraat - Rozengracht - Marnixstraat - Leidseplein - Weteringschans - Museumbrug - to Museumplein.

*This event is wheelchair accessible. However, accessible toilets are not available.

Framer Framed’s new monthly public program series Queer Open Stage kicks off on 22 July at 16:00 to celebrate art, diversity, and community, to coincide with Queer Amsterdam. Join us in embracing the vibrant spirit of Queer Amsterdam. Witness performances, connect with like-minded individuals, and celebrate love, art, and acceptance.

The event is free and in English. Please register via Eventbrite.

Experience a showcase by talented performers from diverse backgrounds, exploring music, dance, comedy, poetry, and more. After the curated set, it’s your turn to take the stage! We welcome performers of all disciplines to share their talents. Sign up and share your unique voice with a supportive audience. While the event itself is in English, performances in all languages are welcome. Register here to perform!

Don’t miss out! Mark your calendars for 22 July, and head to Framer Framed for an unforgettable experience. The event starts at 16:00 and ends at 18:00, so arrive early to secure a prime seat.

This event is part of the 5th edition of Queer Currents festival. Queer Currents is an events platform that brings more content and culture to Queerness. Their goal is to bring more diverse and inclusive, relevant content, culture and art to the Pride Amsterdam weeks.

While we promote and support freedom of speech, our primary focus is to create a safe and inclusive environment where both performers and the audience feel at home and secure. Hence, we prohibit any forms of hate speech or targeted attacks on a community, group, or individual.

The event may be photographed and filmed. Please Framer Framed know in advance if you don’t prefer to have your picture or video taken.

Pink Sunday will be held again this year on Sunday, July 23, 2023.

24.07.2023 — 06.08.2023

LET ART UNITE US!

In official partnership with Pride Amsterdam, the internationally acclaimed photography exhibition, “Kings & Queens”, by Micha Schneijderberg (Snorella WC) and photographer Léon Hendrickx, takes over the art’otel Gallery. The captivating & poignant yet often humorous exhibition, features drag queens from all over the world, bringing the viewer closer to their identity beyond the exhibitionist extravaganza. Each image features two personalities of the same individual laid bare. The man, woman, or else, is intimately embracing their alter ego, the drag king or queen – or is it vice versa?

This limited-time exhibition will be hosted at the art’otel Gallery as a tribute to the vibrant spirit of Pride with this year’s theme being #YouAreIncluded. Visit the exhibition now from 24 July until 6 August inclusive, open daily from 11AM – 11PM!

PORTRAYED IN SELF-JUXTAPOSITION AND CONSTRUCTED USING TECHNICALLY-FLAWLESS PHOTO MONTAGE. IT’S A WORK OF ART!

Kings & Queens showcases the power of love, identity, and inclusivity. It pushes the boundaries of self-expression whilst exuding raw energy, igniting conversations and sparking a sense of empowerment. The aim is to challenge binarity and heteronormativity by visualizing people’s multifaceted nature, in order to promote a deeper understanding of the self. The series advocates a social awareness of everyone’s right to express their identity.

“Join Cor Boots for an exciting exploration of Amsterdam’s diverse neighborhoods with their unique bike tours. Discover the hidden gems and lesser-known aspects of the city with a queer perspective. Cor Boots offers three distinct bike tours, each focusing on a different district: Amsterdam-West, Amsterdam-Zuid, and Amsterdam-Oost.

These alternative queering bike tours provide a fresh and captivating experience, departing from the traditional city center routes. Delve into the art, architecture, literature, venues, cruising spots, and rich history that shape these neighborhoods. Cor Boots, an Amsterdam resident, is not only a Dutch language and Citizenship teacher but also a knowledgeable guide at the Van Eesteren Museum.

The bike tours last between 90 and 120 minutes, allowing ample time to immerse yourself in the unique ambiance of each district. All you need to bring is your bike; Cor Boots will take care of the rest. Whether you’re a local looking to discover a different side of Amsterdam or a visitor seeking an offbeat experience, these tours are perfect for anyone interested in exploring the vibrant and diverse aspects of the city.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to embark on an adventure with Cor Boots and uncover the hidden stories of Amsterdam’s alternative neighborhoods. To book your spot or for further information, please contact Cor Boots via email at corboots@gmail.com.

Note: This event is in English.

Asia Bordowa aims to create a situation where participants can consciously practice belonging and extend it to others. The event includes a communal meal where attendees can contribute by bringing food. Ceramic plates specially prepared for this situation will be used, featuring questions about belonging and images representing what belonging could look like.

Asia Bordowa’s art revolves around the theme of belonging and the exploration of the complex dynamics that shape our sense of connection. Through her illustrations, ceramics, and community-oriented projects, she invites participants to engage in conversations and experiences that challenge conventional notions of belonging. Her work delves into the intersecting realms of identity, social justice, and personal narratives, aiming to foster a deeper understanding of the barriers that hinder true inclusivity.

About Asia Bordowa
Asia Bordowa, born in Warsaw, Poland, and currently based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, is a multidisciplinary artist, illustrator, ceramist, abortionist, somatic practitioner, and political activist. With a background in the anarchofeminist scene, Asia has been actively involved in queer feminist movements for over two decades. She channels her creativity through zines, illustrations, and pottery, using these mediums to share both personal and political stories.

Asia’s art serves as a catalyst for dialogue and reflection, challenging viewers to examine their own experiences of belonging and interrogate the societal systems that perpetuate exclusion and alienation. Her recent focus on pottery has allowed her to infuse political conversations into everyday objects, creating a tactile and thought-provoking experience for her audience.

Passionate about social justice, Asia not only uses her art as a form of self-expression but also as a means to support various initiatives fighting for equality. Her projects often center around communal gatherings, communal meals, and collaborative experiences, where participants can actively engage in conversations about belonging, identity, and the struggle against oppressive systems.

Through her thoughtfully crafted ceramics, Asia seeks to create spaces that inspire connection and empathy. She challenges us to rethink our relationships with others and the world around us, encouraging us to actively shape a more inclusive and compassionate society. Asia’s work reminds us that belonging is not a passive state but a continuous practice that requires empathy, understanding, and a commitment to dismantling oppressive structures.

In collaboration with Pride and Sports, the Queer Amsterdam program will host a networking reception and panel discussion at the American Hotel on Leidseplein. The panel will address the exclusion of transgender athletes in sports and LGBTQ+ sports clubs. The event will also reflect on the Gay Games 1998, focusing on the exclusion of transgender individuals at the time. The goal is to raise awareness and seek possible solutions for change.
Participation is only possible by registering through the following link: https://forms.gle/​mMpHvESpvmwtEUCK7
Your participation will be confirmed by Pride and Sports after a few days. Due to limited space, we kindly request that you arrive on time to ensure your place as our guest.

Event Schedule:
Registration: From 18:00
Panel Discussion: 18:30 - 19:30
Networking Event: 19:30 - 20:30

Short Panel Discussion Description:
In 1998, 25 years ago, the fifth and most successful edition of the Gay Games took place in Amsterdam, which is currently being showcased in an exhibition at the Amsterdam Museum. At that time, the focus was primarily on inclusion in sports for gays and lesbians. However, transgender and non-binary individuals, Black people, and people of color were still invisible in Dutch society. Thankfully, things have changed, and it’s time for us to fight for these individuals as well and make sports more accessible, safe, and inclusive for them. Furthermore, we still see a lack of visible space for transgender individuals in many places within the LGBTQ+ sports community. What are the underlying causes, and how can we raise awareness and bring about necessary changes? Creating a safe sports environment where individuals can truly be themselves, especially in high-level sports, remains a challenge that athletes, sports clubs, coaches, administrators, policymakers, community sports coaches, and all others involved in sports continue to grapple with

25.07.2023 — 06.08.2023

Silicone sealant and lighting object / woolen Berber carpet (made in Morocco) / ink on mirror

About Geke Lensink
Geke Lensink lives and works in Amsterdam. She works as an artist and designer.

Join Cor Boots for an exciting exploration of Amsterdam’s diverse neighborhoods with their unique bike tours. Discover the hidden gems and lesser-known aspects of the city with a queer perspective. Cor Boots offers three distinct bike tours, each focusing on a different district: Amsterdam-West, Amsterdam-Zuid, and Amsterdam-Oost.

These alternative queering bike tours provide a fresh and captivating experience, departing from the traditional city center routes. Delve into the art, architecture, literature, venues, cruising spots, and rich history that shape these neighborhoods. Cor Boots, an Amsterdam resident, is not only a Dutch language and Citizenship teacher but also a knowledgeable guide at the Van Eesteren Museum.

The bike tours last between 90 and 120 minutes, allowing ample time to immerse yourself in the unique ambiance of each district. All you need to bring is your bike; Cor Boots will take care of the rest. Whether you’re a local looking to discover a different side of Amsterdam or a visitor seeking an offbeat experience, these tours are perfect for anyone interested in exploring the vibrant and diverse aspects of the city.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to embark on an adventure with Cor Boots and uncover the hidden stories of Amsterdam’s alternative neighborhoods. To book your spot or for further information, please contact Cor Boots via email at corboots@gmail.com.

Note: This event is in English.

Making images of each other, of ourselves, of the world, of the future, of God. Can we leave it? Can we shake off the images of our existence? It’s a biblical theme. Don’t make a picture of me! Images of God and man are of all times. The church has been particularly involved. According to Essemie van Dunné, pastor of Mennonite Amsterdam, this is unbiblical. Can we let go of the images and believe in ourselves, the other and life again?

This event will be followed by performances with Pia Vapeur & Yelena Myshko from 1.00—1.30pm.

About Pia Vapeur

Jeroen Fransen has been singing with the tenors of the Amsterdam Bach Consort in the choir as a semi-professional singer since 2010. These performances, classical singing lessons, the alternative nightlife of Amsterdam, and meeting drag Queen Coco Coquette and her transvestite cabaret contribute to the development of Jeroen’s theatrical alter ego Pia Vapeur. This colorful apparition, fond of hats and semi-vintage couture, loves music and singing. Pia performs live songs of interwar movie stars at various culture and art-related events. Pia is sometimes jokingly called, Die Weimar Hitmachine. Pia also makes forays into classical arias and jazz. Singing alone does not stop there. Pia interviews and hosts. For MVS television, she reported on the exhibition, Pleuriversum, during Museum Night 2019. This spring, Pia was on display at the KunstCorso Amsterdam. All in all … she goes where art takes her.

About Yelena Myshko

Yelena Myshko is a multidisciplinary artist based in Zutphen, the Netherlands. She was born in Kyiv, Ukraine in 1985. Myshko holds a BA from Utrecht School of the Arts, MA from ArtEZ University of Arts, and MSSc from Linköping University. Her background is in fashion design and gender studies, in addition, performance art plays an integral part in her practice since Myshko was introduced to it in 2005.

Her interest in politics led to an affiliation with the international protest group FEMEN for two years. Myshko participated in bootcamps and actions in Germany, France, and the Netherlands, eventually becoming the leader of FEMEN Netherlands. This experience influenced her artistic tone of voice and visual language.

Myshko exhibited in the Netherlands, Spain, United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, Austria, Portugal, Montenegro, Russia, South Korea, Colombia, Argentina, Togo (Africa), Canada and USA. She was nominated for the BLOOOM Award 2018 (DE), Walter Koschatzky Art-Award 2019 (AT) and won 2nd place at Kunstschouw Award 2019 (NL). Her work is published in the news, magazines and books.

Join Cor Boots for an exciting exploration of Amsterdam’s diverse neighborhoods with their unique bike tours. Discover the hidden gems and lesser-known aspects of the city with a queer perspective. Cor Boots offers three distinct bike tours, each focusing on a different district: Amsterdam-West, Amsterdam-Zuid, and Amsterdam-Oost.

These alternative queering bike tours provide a fresh and captivating experience, departing from the traditional city center routes. Delve into the art, architecture, literature, venues, cruising spots, and rich history that shape these neighborhoods. Cor Boots, an Amsterdam resident, is not only a Dutch language and Citizenship teacher but also a knowledgeable guide at the Van Eesteren Museum.

The bike tours last between 90 and 120 minutes, allowing ample time to immerse yourself in the unique ambiance of each district. All you need to bring is your bike; Cor Boots will take care of the rest. Whether you’re a local looking to discover a different side of Amsterdam or a visitor seeking an offbeat experience, these tours are perfect for anyone interested in exploring the vibrant and diverse aspects of the city.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to embark on an adventure with Cor Boots and uncover the hidden stories of Amsterdam’s alternative neighborhoods. To book your spot or for further information, please contact Cor Boots via email at corboots@gmail.com.

Note: This event is in English.

As part of the Queer Amsterdam film program, the film by Raúl Vidales Bohórquez will be screened at Studio/K. The film combines documentary and fiction to approach cinema as a ritual of symbolic transformation in the experiences of seven trans women. After the screening, Alejandra Ortiz will moderate a panel discussion with panelists and trans activists Alexandra R. Ruiz (Mexico) and Alma Betancur (Colombia). The conversation will focus on the artistic world as a space of acceptance and empowerment for transgender individuals and the community.

About Queer Amsterdam x Humans of Film Festival 2023
Queer Amsterdam will take place for the first time from July 22nd to July 28th, and Humans of Film Festival is participating! During the Queer Amsterdam Film program, the go-to festival for socio-cultural and societal films, films that center around transgender individuals will be showcased at both Melkweg and Studio/K. These films have been selected by writer and trans activist Alejandra Ortiz. After the screenings, she will moderate various panel discussions with key transgender figures from the queer community.

Humans of Film Festival proudly announces our collaboration with the new Queer Pride organized by Queer Amsterdam this year. Queer Pride focuses on queer people of color, transgender and non-binary individuals, and queer people with disabilities. We have chosen Alejandra Ortiz, author of the book “”De Waarheid Zal Me Bevrijden,”” grassroots activist, and guest curator for Queer Currents 2023, to select two films (to be shown at Melkweg and Studio/K) and lead the panel discussions following the screenings. Through our other projects, such as LGBTQ Humans of Amsterdam, you will find more programs (including collaborations with Pride and Sports) and even an exhibition about the Gay Games 1998 at the Amsterdam Museum.

27.07.2023 — 06.08.2023

I have a collection of old photographs I’ve found on the internet. These photos all have one thing in common. They all show happy queer people. Sometimes the happiness is small and contained in a tender look or an arm wrapped around another or in the slightest upturn of black and white lips. Sometimes the happiness is big and spills out of laugh lines and open smiles and determined faces and raised fists or signs. Sometimes the happiness looks like romance; hands holding each other, tender or passionate kisses, a closeness you can only describe as loving. I think I collect these photos because I revel in the happiness. The happiness of the people in the photos, the happiness hidden in a whole other generation of queers, the happiness in knowing that queerness has meant and will always mean happiness. Happiness despite the hardships. Happiness to spite the hardships. Seeing this queer happiness preserved in photographs in black and white or faded and grainy colors reinforces and revitalizes my own.

So I have decided to create art from some of these photographs to combine the queer happiness I see in the picture with my own.

About Aniela Holtrop

Aniela Holtrop is a born and raised Brazilian-Dutch-American who moved to the Netherlands about two years ago. She is a law student, an ultimate frisbee player, an artist, a music lover, a former Waldorf kid, a lesbian, a multicultural mess, and a poet who loves the outdoors.

“On this afternoon, the Oude Kerk opens its doors for free in celebration of Queer Sex Workers’ Day. Sex workers and sex work activists will curate an extensive program of performances and talks starting from 13:00 at the Oude Kerk. From their own perspectives, they will share insights into their work and their relationship with the neighborhood. The Oude Kerk is situated in the heart of the Red Light District, where sex workers have been operating for centuries. In 1306, the Oude Kerk was even dedicated to the patron saint of prostitutes. Through this program, we reaffirm our historical connection with sex workers and provide them with a platform to share their perspectives and experiences with the public.

This program is curated and organized in collaboration with Red Light Arts & Culture and Queer Amsterdam.

Program

13:00 - 17:45 – Ongoing Mini Art Fair
A continuous mini art exhibition will feature visual artworks by 5 sex worker visual artists, presenting their works at the Oude Kerk.

13:00-15:00 – Pop-up Peep Show
Peep Show Hoes - A collective of sex worker artists performing in a COVID-friendly, 1-on-1, mobile peep show on wheels. Members of the collective will perform together for small groups and individuals in a pop-up peep show within the church.

15:30-16:30 – Mainstage Sex Workers’ Performance
This beautifully curated, super-sexy immersive show in the church will feature interdisciplinary performances by five different sex workers. Hosted by an MC, the show will include acts combining dance, spoken-word, poetry, and music.

Maryo, Spoken Word & Dance - Transforming personal experiences into expertise to empower sex workers is Maryo’s artistic goal. For about three years, Maryo has specialized in finding effective ways to tell her story through various forms. This time, Maryo will express her story through a spoken-word strip performance.

Reyer, Music & Dance - “Crossing Rivers” is a performance exploration that combines text, music-making, and dance. The concept delves into materials transitioning from conformity to non-conformity and texts shifting from non-fiction to fiction. Reyer explores the connections between the two and the incredibly challenging transitions in between.

The Honey Experience, Dance - Through dance, Honey’s erotic work and art highlight emotions, the layered experience of desire, sensuality, and the beauty and freedom of human sexuality.

16.30-17:45 – Cumulative Panel and Performance
The culmination of the afternoon will be a panel discussion and a concluding performance by an artist. The panel will focus on the intersections of activism, trans-sex work, and migration.”

Join us for the Opening Event at Het Magazijn on Thursday, July 27th, presented by Queer Currents.

Participating Artists:
Aniela Holtrop, Annabelle Mclaren-Thomson, Asia Bordowa, Kenza Badi, Luki Haak, Rob van Veggel, Samuel King, Willemijn van Kempen

Discover a captivating array of artworks reflecting the diverse and vibrant queer community. This exhibition celebrates queer happiness, struggles, and belonging through various art forms.

Come together to embrace the beauty and strength of queerness through art, fostering understanding and appreciation for each other’s journeys. See you there!

A talk by Touria Meliani

“The film “Queen of Lapa” by Theodore Collatos and Carolina Monnerat will be screened at Melkweg. The film portrays Luana Muniz, an amazing activist, actress, and proud sex professional. Luana created a safe working environment for transgender women and girls in Rio de Janeiro’s Lapa neighborhood. After the screening, Alejandra Ortiz will moderate a panel discussion with panelists and trans activists Ana Paula Lima (Brazil) and Anancy (Portugal). The conversation will touch upon topics such as family rejection, sex work, differences between the West and the Global South, and migration.

About Queer Amsterdam x Humans of Film Festival 2023
Queer Amsterdam will take place for the first time from July 22nd to July 28th, and Humans of Film Festival is participating! During the Queer Amsterdam Film program, the go-to festival for socio-cultural and societal films, films that center around transgender individuals will be showcased at both Melkweg and Studio/K. These films have been selected by writer and trans activist Alejandra Ortiz. After the screenings, she will moderate various panel discussions with key transgender figures from the queer community.

Humans of Film Festival proudly announces our collaboration with the new Queer Pride organized by Queer Amsterdam this year. Queer Pride focuses on queer people of color, transgender and non-binary individuals, and queer people with disabilities. We have chosen Alejandra Ortiz, author of the book “De Waarheid Zal Me Bevrijden,” grassroots activist, and guest curator for Queer Currents 2023, to select two films (to be shown at Melkweg and Studio/K) and lead the panel discussions following the screenings. Through our other projects, such as LGBTQ Humans of Amsterdam, you will find more programs (including collaborations with Pride and Sports) and even an exhibition about the Gay Games 1998 at the Amsterdam Museum.”

Curator of the Pride Photo Awards 2023, Samira Damato, will engage in a conversation with Queer Currents on the 28th of July. Together, they will explore the artworks comprising this year’s photographic collection titled ‘Doubt & Belonging.’ The discussion will delve into the compelling stories behind the images, as well as the visual languages employed and the meanings they convey. Samira’s aim is to unravel the challenges and misrepresentations faced by many individuals within the Queer community. The conversation will underscore the significance of heightened awareness, connection, and inclusivity within the Queer community.

Nene Moné play and improvise live mind-blowing rhythms and sounds that mix acoustic and electronic in a live performance. In addition, their music is combined with visuals, dance and movement guided experience that invite you to connect with social and environmental justice topics. Visuals, music, dance and movement performance will be part of this space!

Nene Moné is a non binary, multi-instrumentalist artist and activist that produces electro experimental music combined with their aboriginal roots. They play mind-expanding acoustic rhythms and sounds with electronics in a live performance. Together with other musicians, visual, dance and movement performers they connect several social and environmental justice issues in a performance without borders!

Carl-Johan Paulsen, also known as Leo Patra, is a 24-year-old Danish textile and performance artist studying at Gerrit Rietveld Academie. Carl-Johan has a background in theatre, dance, performance, and various musical endeavors, which have become a central part of their work. Over the last 3 years, Carl-Johan has developed an art practice centered around themes such as queerness in mythologies, questioning of religious and spiritual structures, finding space within a non-binary body, sexuality on display, imagining worlds, and camouflaging identity through the lens of safety and acceptance in society.

Carl-Johan has a strong curiosity for researching and creating textiles. Through carting, spinning, dyeing, and knitting, they question the stories that surround us, the bodies we inhabit, and society at large. They joined the House Of Hopelezz at the beginning of 2022, under the care and guidance of Taka Taka, embracing the art of drag in parallel with their artistic practice. You can expect performances that draw inspiration from the vibrant nightlife of Amsterdam, as well as their past as a church choir singer in the Danish countryside.

Milkshake Festival is a multi-genre music festival in Amsterdam and has become one of the favorite festivals in the capital city. It’s not just a dance festival; it’s a celebration where respect, freedom, love, tolerance, and fun are highly valued. In 2023, Milkshake Festival returns to Westerpark, bringing together people from diverse backgrounds to celebrate the city and its initiatives. Expect dazzling decors, spectacles, and a wide variety of performances and attendees.

30.07.2023 — 03.08.2023

Join us for the Queer Films & Art Exhibition at ROZENSTRAAT, featuring a diverse collection of works that celebrate and explore queer identities, experiences, and creativity. This exhibition showcases the talents of various artists, including Asha Sumroy, Elçin Acun, Erik Alkema, Jeroen Fransen, Julieta Tetelbaum, Lou Vives, Marijn Kuijper, Mees Elias van Zanten, Jen Knuchel, Vincent van Oss, Yumi Maes, 河边哼歌 Hebianhengge, Kia Sciarrone, Aniela Kurkiewicz. Through the power of visual storytelling, these artists invite you to delve into the world of queerness, offering unique perspectives and reflections on dreams, joy, sleep, personal journeys, and sensitive obscurities.

30.07.2023 — 03.08.2023

In my youth I was afraid of chickens and perhaps also of boys who played football, because I didn’t want to join them. I preferred to play alone in my dream forest. See image 1 and 2.

During my puberty I also hid myself because I was gay. Feeling insecure what others thought of me. Being gay wasn’t easy in the Catholic South of the Netherlands in the Seventies. See image 3, 4. I wanted to break free and be a star. See image 5.

These days so much has been gained in the Western World. All kind of groups stand up for guys like me. One can be part of Queer groups and Leather men. They all fight for my rights. Not feeling really part of them I want to be myself and belong to myself. Perhaps I still fear bigger groups. See image 6, 7 and 8.

1. ‘Fear of Chickens’, painting and children’s toy, 45 x 22 x 4 cm, 2022

2. ‘I don’t like football’, a rack containing a light frame with pens with football players and a 3D image underneath, 32 x 62 x 58 cm, 2021

3. ‘Closet Case 1’, a cd rack with a ceramic statue inside and an owl mask on top, 38 x 36 x 28 cm, 2021

4. ‘Closet Ken’, a barbie doll in a bird house, 42 x 20 x 14 cm, 2021

5. ‘Caged Boy’, a ceramic statue in a lamp, 36 x 32 x 26 cm, 2021

6. ‘Silhouette with iPhone’, Frame with perspex and plywood, 82 x 69 cm, 2018

7. ‘In’, a ball of rope in a fishbowl on a prong on top of a rack. tree roots hanging from a rusty chain hang from the prong, 106 x 56 x 50 cm, 2022

8. Michelangelo’s 50th Birthday’, a statue in a box barred by a part of a side table with a vase and a statuette on top, 92 x 35 x 35 cm, 2021

About Vincent van Oss

Vincent van Oss, an artist based in Amsterdam, born in 1960 in Sterksel, North Brabant. Graduated from St. Joost Academie in ‘s-Hertogenbosch in 1984 and Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam in 1993. Notable exhibitions include ‘Andy’s 15 minutes of Fame’ at Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam (2007), René Daniëls Artproject at Van Abbe Museum (2012), and ‘Corona Archives’ at Nieuw Dakota (2020). Active in LGBTQIA+ art curation and exhibitions, including Atelier Vincent van Oss in Amsterdam (2021) and Amsterdam Gay Pride events. Featured in publications like ‘Home’ (2022) and ‘DeFKa Research SC04’ (2021). Own writing ‘De Oervorm is pneumatisch’ (2010).

30.07.2023 — 03.08.2023

Kia Sciarrone’s work “we’re here. we are queer. get used to it!” examines the internet for posts on LGBTQIA+ contributions in different countries. In numerous autocratic and/or religion-fetishized states, restrictions are put in place that block posts on LGBTQIA+ topics due to homophobic tendencies and partially or completely block internet access. In Austria, this practice exists in many companies that ban any articles or pages that deal with body politics. That being said, when used privately, the Internet should at least provide basic human rights to information without restriction of sexual preferences. Sciarrone’s work addresses those moments of censorship by researching queer issues in numerous countries on the internet using a smartphone and leaving a colored rectangle in place of the existing or non-existing images, indicating the particular title of the article as the source of information. This creates a multicolored grid pattern that hides photography as photography or image politics and leaves out representational moments of reality. The text fragments touched upon leave it up to the viewer to activate their own imagination regarding the depicted facts and to mentally generate a pictorial reality for it.

About Kia Sciarrone

Born in 1989 in Iran, Kia Sciarrone is an artist currently residing and working in Vienna, Austria. Having spent three years exploring experimental theatre in Tehran, their artistic journey initially revolved around self-portraiture as a means of discovering their own identity. In 2019, they began experimenting with various materials and exploring different artistic media. More recently, starting from 2021, Kia has been studying artistic photography at the University of Applied Arts Vienna, further expanding their artistic horizons.

30.07.2023 — 03.08.2023

Hallelujah is a tapestry triptych, inspired on snapshots I took after closing time, in Amsterdam’s gay cruising and fetish club Club Church. The three tapestries will show empty interiors and spaces that normally are covered by darkness and full of people. Spaces where something happened. where the ghosts of yesternight still dwell and reminisce. Where one still can feel a residue of lust, fun, pleasure and horniness, mixed with a feeling of belonging and community, but also with feelings of loneliness and displacement.

Interiors as silence witnesses. That what happened swallowed by the walls of this safe uncensored public space.

With this series of fleece tapestries, I want to portray my ambivalence regarding this kind of spaces; The attraction, the excitement, but also of the lingering memories of the tears I shed in my twenties after going home alone after a lonely night of gay-clubbing, in the days that I was still looking for my place in the world and in the community. Those days when I felt lost and unseen and heteronormativity was still running rampant through my veins. Now much more grounded I still sometimes can be catapulted back in those feelings of sadness. Those spaces working like Proust’s madeleine cookies. I wanna celebrate those spaces, by literally rendering soft the hardness, that definitely also still lingers there.

This triptych is a second instalment of a series of fleece tapestries that portray places, spaces and interiors that have SEEN me at my most vulnerable. The first series of 14 tapestries depicts images of the hospital interiors I journeyed through in the past couple of years.

About Erik Alkema (Groningen, NL, 1974)

Erik Alkema is an Amsterdam based artist mainly working with fleece fabric. Next to his textile works he makes short video documentary portraits, theater (design and writing), and is the the initiator and organizer of social artistic empowerment and research projects in which co-creation plays a prominent role. In the past years he is mostly focusing on making fleece tapestries.

Artist statement:

When I came out of the closet, I realized that I had been lying to myself for more than ten years. On some level I had known that I was sexually attracted to boys since I was eleven. At the same time, I had compartmentalized my brain in such a way that I rendered this knowledge completely invisible to myself. It was shocking to realize that I actually couldn’t trust my own mind.

Ever since I have been fascinated and scared by the human capacity of self-deception and the forces of conformity that made me do this to myself.

My work is driven by a need to challenge my own truths, biases, and blind spots. I conduct social artistic research into what is considered “normal”, and the human capacity of self-delusion. I attempt to expose the often-invisible mores of the society I grew up in; the frame of mind in which “normal” is, like David Wojnaowicz said, confined with glass walls you only experience when you run into them.

I see beauty, humor, and sometimes honest truth in human awkwardness. I’m fascinated by the mental acrobatics through which we improvise our justifications; the often sloppy linguistic struggle to talk ourselves into the prevailing consensus about what is considered “normal”, and what is considered “deviant”.

I find inspiration in popular culture and in my Protestant upbringing. For example, in the project Damaged Fruits where I investigated how the AIDS epidemic, in the way it was portrayed in media and pop culture, influenced the identity and the sexual experience of myself, and the generation of gay men who, like me, came out just after the height of this crisis.

This resulted in a series of tapestries that were presented under the title In the Air Tonight (Stardust will cover you, cover you). Tapestries that were inspired by the lives and music of Whitney Houston, George Michael and the Pet Shop Boys. Pop icons who all have a twisted, hidden or implicit (or very explicit, for people who were in the know, in case of the PSB) relationship with queer issues.

In addition to these more autobiographically inspired works, I try to create work situations in which it becomes possible for me to run into my own glass walls. This I do by developing co-creational visual storytelling projects for people who find it hard to fit in; who feel neglected and unheard by society. People I’m not likely to meet in my own bubble of like-minded people.

I collect small personal stories in the margins of society. Based on the idea that if you want to map the underlying construction and ideology of a society, it is best read, where it itches and hurts. Interviewing, and working with people who have run into to those invisible walls, or who find themselves on the wrong side of the glass. Doing fieldwork where ‘that’s just how it works’ and ‘that’s just the way how it is’, is less obvious.

Examples of this way of working are a movie I made together with underprivileged young people with debt problems, and a theater production I developed in collaboration with young people living in a youth psychiatric institution.

For the documentary video portrait installation IK MAG ZIJN WIE ER IS ( I get to be who I am), I traveled all over the Netherlands to collect the life stories of senior transgender people. Stories of people who went through transition late in life; who therefore, have a unique perspective on gender and sex roles in our society. and who also lived and experienced a time which is slowly fading from memory. A time in which there were no trans role models, and hardly any language to understand what they felt or who they were.

30.07.2023 — 03.08.2023

Queer venues do not only celebrate gay history but are places where people reclaim agency over their bodies and minds, through relatability, recognition, and collective goal. Sisters and Brothers is an intimate narrative embedded in two spaces, Amsterdam’s cruise club, the Church, and the ballroom scene of Rotterdam. It tells a story about the sense of belonging, mutual support, and reliance in the queer community as a source of inner strength to go explore and fulfill one’s needs and desires. Visually inspired by Rüdiger Trautsch, Libuše Jarcovjáková, Arlene Gottfried and Karlheinz Weinberger, the artist captures those moments of vulnerability and resilience within the community to raise visibility of queer love and the struggle that goes along with it.

About Aniela Kurkiewicz

Aniela Kurkiewicz (she/they) is an interdisciplinary artist-photographer based in Rotterdam. Her main field of interest revolves around conceptual art, visual semiotics, political resistance, intersectional feminism, and queer archives. What they stand for with their practice is knowledge and understanding derived from participatory research.

30.07.2023 — 03.08.2023

Jeroen’s collages are built from a constantly curated collection of images. He meticulously cuts fragments from photographs found in books and magazines from the 1930s to the 1980s and combines them with snippets of (news) images from the internet and his own photographs.

The juxtaposition of retro imagery with contemporary visuals of architecture, objects, and people creates tableaus with dreamlike and sometimes apocalyptic atmospheres. In these distorted and altered landscapes, Fransen associates his vision of the dark side or subconscious aspect of contemporary society and the individuals striving to maintain their balance within it.

Discomfort, tensions, and alienation between people, on one hand, and the irrational and magical thinking that, in Fransen’s view, remains very much alive in (Western) civilization, serve as constant sources of inspiration in his work.

Is it a contemporary Boschian portrayal of the end of times? Fortunately, there is hope. Doesn’t the dream or nightmare itself have a healing and cleansing effect? When you have dreamt it all, a new beginning potentially lies ahead. A dream can be an interpretation, providing direction on your life’s path.

About Jeroen Fransen (Zwijndrecht, 1980)

“With my work, I aim to capture the undercurrent swirling beneath my daily existence in imagery.” I perceive my work as visual constructions in which the rational and irrational merge, forming a new equilibrium. The collages reflect elements from the urban environment, interior spaces, and media, making them somewhat familiar to the viewer. It is crucial for me that the observer can relate and empathize with the imaginary yet recognizable (figurative) worlds I create. Through visual details and the play of form, color, and motion, I intend to subtly draw the viewer into the artwork. The collages are not large but rather of intimate size. This way, the act of viewing becomes a genuinely personal experience. I offer the collages as a kind of escape into an in-between world where one can briefly dwell alone. A place where inevitably one is jolted back, akin to waking from a dream that lasted less than a minute, perhaps because someone else wants to have a glimpse. I would be thrilled if visitors engage in conversations with each other about the artwork and the personal associations they have with it. Through unexpected encounters, a bit of discomfort and alienation may be tamed. A nightmare softened.

30.07.2023 — 03.08.2023

Elçin Acun’s video installation, “Allegory of Dream”, explores the concept of occupying the masculine public space with transparent body images caught between visibility and invisibility, using illusions that wander silently and recklessly in various urban spaces. The video delves into the boundaries of the possibility of existing as a dream within reality, examining the marginalized and obscured forms of passive and otherized identities, seeking to bring them into a new and active position outside the confines of the public shadows.

The video projection showcases a naked body engaged in a confident, upright, and purposeful walk through the city at 3 am. This performative act symbolizes a victory march, emanating a sense of honor and pride. As the individual walks and the projection moves, the imagery reflects on the surfaces of buildings, capturing the essence of the city and breathing life into the dreamlike vision. This provocative display, through its powerful performance, challenges the increasingly precarious existence of queer individuals in society.

The video is a re-recording of a moving projection projected onto the streets. The image of the projection shows walking figures, including the artist himself. Figures sometimes walk through shop windows, sometimes through the windows of houses, sometimes over people who are on the street at the time. These walks represent a feminist stance and an ongoing advocacy for queer actions, providing a multidimensional pathway for individuals to freely utilize spaces that are often restricted by an oligarchic order. The video highlights the resilience of silent yet powerful activism by queer individuals, showcasing a pluralistic structure. With this real-time action, which is a kind of video mapping in terms of filming method, the artist manages to establish a presence in public space and the shooting becomes a guerrilla performance.

“Allegory of Dream”, draws strength from the debates surrounding the visibility of bodies that are denied, excluded, and otherized in public spaces. It challenges Habermas’s patriarchal association with the public realm and the confinement of queer individuals to private spaces, both in terms of defining private areas and erasing queer presence from the external world. The allegory of bodies walking through the streets and empty spaces forms the beginning of asignificant revolution and a striking illusion within the imaginative journey of visibility in public spaces.

Politically and socially isolated, alienated, and confined bodies find expression in the public realm, even as a virtual trace, disrupting the structure of patriarchal mindsets and assuming an intriguing and thought-provoking nature. The video showcases the fluctuating image of an individual growing and diminishing on the face of the city, presenting an extraordinary narrative that transcends norms. Elçin Acun’s “Allegory of Dream” aims to challenge the static perspective of gender discourse, unsettle its fixed stability, reveal the illusionary relationships in representation, and disrupt the routine position of patriarchal singular viewpoints, opening up new possibilities. With this video, Elçin Acun invites viewers to experience a dream-like illusion where queer and feminist possibilities take hold of the external world.

“Allegory of Dream”

15min, 2021

An adapted text of: Melike Bayık

About Elçin Acun

Elçin Acun is an artist and academic who works interdisciplinary with concepts such as body, gender, visibility, queer and feminism. Adopting art as a method that can be activist in the struggle for the acquisition of fundamental rights and freedoms and visibility, Elçin believes that art is a space of freedom of expression. Elçin is also the co-founder of KOLİ Art Space, an independent non-profit art space for the solidarity and visibility of feminist and queer artists, focusing on the power of inclusivity and diversity, the fluidity of identity and gender. Elçin lives in Istanbul and has recently been working intensively on video installations.

30.07.2023 — 03.08.2023

‘Blue and Gold are eternally united. They have affinity in eternity.’

- Derek Jarman.

Afterglow for Blue (2020) is a celebration of Derek Jarman’s personification of color in his film Blue (1993). Here, Blue and Gold are portrayed as fascinating heroes of daily life, connected by carrying each other’s wisdom teeth in their wallets.

Film by Lou Vives

Soundtrack by Pedro Tavares

Design by Tomás Queiroz

About Lou Vives

Lou Vives is an Iberian artist based in Amsterdam. Their practice sparks from digitally mediated poetics as testimonies of intimacy and vulnerability. Their work is materialized in the convergence of text and image, and how these mediums intersect and inform one another. Ultimately, it is through an ode to the mundane and the infinite possibilities of reality that vives finds the healing potential in storytelling.

They’re also half of the performing duo Content y Contenido with Ingeborg Kraft Fermin. In 2022, they graduated in Moving Image from the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam and recently have worked with places such as Perdu (NL), La Casa Encendida (ES), Matadero Madrid (ES), Galeria Zé dos Bois (PT), and the Grey Space in the Middle (NL).

30.07.2023 — 03.08.2023

Joy is the sequel of the queer feminist short film “Wake Up! It’s Yesterday” filmed in New York in 2020. The film is a journey through the mind of a 65-year-old working-class lesbian who’s addicted to sugar and can’t stop thinking about her ex-girlfriend from youth. She lives with her partner—a mannequin that she’s built to look exactly like her ex. The tragicomic piece delves deep into moments of intimacy, loneliness, sexuality, joy and the desperate longing to be loved.

Directed, Written, Edited, Direction of Photography by Julieta Tetelbaum

Produced by Genderless Films

Cast: Cindy Keiter & Luciana Grasso

Sound: Sebastián De La Riega

Music: Agustín Uriburu

About Julieta Tetelbaum

Julieta Tetelbaum (Buenos Aires, 1990) is a queer film director, cinematographer, screenwriter and choreographer based in London. Her artistic vision revolves around compelling themes such as gender, feminism, childhood, violence, intimacy, and sexuality. Tetelbaum’s short films have garnered recognition worldwide, among these: “The Misfortune of Femininity” (2020), “Wake Up! It’s Yesterday” (2021), “Black Chalk” (2022), and “Joy” (2023). These films are part of the collection of the Library of Congress of Argentina, have been exhibited in museums, art galleries, and international film festivals.

By challenging conventional storytelling and traditional cinematic norms, Tetelbaum’s thought-provoking stories serve as catalysts for introspection, reflection, empathy, and dialogue. Through her lens, she creates a platform for marginalised voices to be heard, actively confronting social norms, urging viewers to question preconceived notions and embrace a broader understanding of the human experience.

Statement

Memories are akin to films, I start to remember and everything becomes a film. The human mind is cinematic, cinema is already in our mind… when I remember I learn to film.

30.07.2023 — 03.08.2023

in the middle of both sleeps (2022) is a moving image that brings together scripted text, narration, sound, as well as original and found footage exploring queer living space as a transient collection of experiences, imaginations and movements through a composition of fictional and personal voices.

Centred in this film are two parts of interwoven text, which the audience is guided through with shifts in tones and perspectives (accompanied by an alternating sequence of footage). Part one depicts a fictional conversation where two people discuss about their house while trying to figure out the strange sound that woke them up in the middle of the night (a choreographed compilation of real estate commercials representing the image of ideal families and lifestyles past and present); part two draws upon reflections on our relationship with living space (a filmed attempt to navigate in our flat).

About 河边哼歌 Hebianhengge

Founded in 2020, 河边哼歌 Hebianhengge (Else/Xun and Echo/Yuhan) is an artist duo working and living in London. Currently, they work in a shared context of invisible labour of care with sometimes-collective, sometimes-individual focuses. Their research interests are support structures, derivative knowledge production, maintenance, expanded archival practices, politics of language and visual culture regarding the marginalised groups, Sinophone studies and living spaces, among others. Practice-wise, they work primarily with time-based media such as text, moving image and sound. They explore creative and reflective writing (of scripts, fictional conversations and sometimes essays) and the guided experience of writing to build dialogical narratives, which often take the form of text-based moving image with a shared but not necessarily unified voice. They mix new and recycled visual, aural and textual materials, investigating the friction and parallels between them to reveal the sometimes violent yet meditative narratives.

30.07.2023 — 03.08.2023

The filmmaker collects notes on the Jewish water ritual mikvah, which slip into immersive, recollections of memories.

Mikvah, directly translated as a ‘collection [of water]’, a ritual immersion in water revolving around the body’s innate holiness and purposed towards marking transition – physical and transcendent, minute, and tectonic – becomes the visual language and essayistic frame for exploring the filmmaker’s own marking and ideas. As information and images are collected, and details and meanings of the ritual of the Mikvah understood, so too are the feelings and thoughts which have brought the filmmaker to make the film. As they collect themselves, and the memories they recall underwater come closer to the present day, the truths they (re)claim become an offering on the way we evolve and love.

The screening of the short film will be accompanied by an informal opportunity for viewers to engage in their own self-reflection through fantasy and memory. On July 31st at 12 PM, there will also be a Q&A session with the director.

About Asha Sumroy

Asha Lyons Sumroy is an artist and researcher from London, whose work is often auto-ethnographic, understanding telling-the-self as an act of reclamation and resistance. Their thesis work ‘notes on mikvah’ is an act of “collecting the self”, exploring queerness, fluidity, collectivity, and change as a transgender Jew. The use of abstract image to prompt memory in this work has led them to continue exploring the role of fantasy/fantasising in queer memory and imagining.

30.07.2023 — 03.08.2023

Overpopulated is a poetic short film about who resides in you, even when nobody’s looking. How does other people’s perception affect your being. It questions how one lets go of all expectations and judgements and come closer to themselves. In ‘Overpopulated’ you are a witness of a conversation and a journey inwards of the protagonist.

About the artists

Jen Knuchel (they/them) is a professional photographer, who recently graduated from the University of applied photography in Amsterdam. They currently work as an editor for the dutch newspaper Trouw.

Their own special interest lies in the exploration and observation of different (including their own) social structures. This is reflected in recurring themes in their work: family-structures, the home and identity. In their work, Jen always tries to find the perfect balance between personal story-telling and aesthetics, not preferring one over the other but always looking for ways in which these constructs can enhance each other. Next to the still, Jen also has a love for the moving image and is a spoken-word-artist who already performed on numerous occasions. Independent from the medium that is being used, Jen will always try to make the audience look at something - or someone - in a different way then they did before and thereby shifting the perspective of the audience.

About the Artists

Mees Elias van Zanten (they/them) is a multi-disciplinary artist who studied fine arts at the HKU for about a year but is mainly self-taught. Since they were a child, they had a fascination with telling stories. Out of this fascination they started to try and explore different ways of creative storytelling (e.g. writing, spoken-word, acting, film, dancing and physical theatre). They refuse to limit themselves to the use of only one medium, so in most of their work they love to seek the conjunction between different types of media. Mees´ main strength is coming up with out-of-the-box, broad and sureel concepts. Recurrent themes in their work are: identity, gender, the transgression of societal norms, injustice and personal growth. Mees always draws their inspiration from personal experiences, and by telling about those, they try to shake up people´s worldview without pushing them.

Both Mees and Jen were part of Poetry Circle Amsterdam 2023.

30.07.2023 — 03.08.2023

Imagining a world without borders, walls and boxes, is incredibly hard to do. Luckily, we have art to help us out.

This movie was a way of coming together with queer artists, sharing feelings of hope, longing and pain.

This dreamy, fluid film invites you into the world of a few young queer artists’ ideas about societal gender norms, beloning and mental health. Within their music and spoken word they reveal new worlds, with more possibilities, flexible and without borders.

Director: Yumi Maes

Cinematography: Jop van de Kam

Music: Raisa Mulder

Poet: Nate Porter

Production: Loek Seegers

Language: English and Spanish

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Thanks to: Utrecht University,

Queer Film Festival Utrecht ​

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Duration: 8’30

Year: 2022

About Yumi Maes

Yumi is a visual artist with a passion for exploring visual anthropology through the medium of film. Based in Utrecht, The Netherlands, her work is characterized by collaborative storytelling that is both playful and politically conscious.

With a thoughtful approach to societal issues and a deep connection to her subjects, Yumi conducts thorough research to create films that resonate with her audience on a profound level. Their journey into the world of visual anthropology began with a Master’s degree at Goldsmiths University of London, where they focused on ethnographic film and the dynamics of looking, blending theory and practice in her work.

One of their notable achievements was her graduation project, which delved into the infrastructural challenges of nearly-gentrified neighborhoods, using film as a powerful tool to bring attention to important social matters.

Yumi also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Cultural Studies from Radboud University Nijmegen, where they explored literature, theatre, and film with a focus on postcolonial and visual studies. Her thesis on the lesbian gaze in “Orange is the New Black” showcased her ability to critically analyze media representations.

30.07.2023 — 03.08.2023

Declaring my multitudes is a video diary about love, family, queer identity and belonging. It expresses the desire to move beyond comprehension and coherence when it comes to presenting oneself to the world.

About Marijn Kuijper

Marijn Kuijper (they/them) is a visual artist who takes their personal life as the starting point for their work. Marijn doesn’t care much for labels and refuses to fit into them. Their work is about navigating the patriarchy as a queer person, having a trans body, being a parent in a non-conforming family and having relationships with multiple partners. With their work, Marijn wants to stretch people’s ideas of what is perceived as normal and acceptable when it comes to relationships, family and bodily autonomy.

Marijn graduated at Royal Academy of Art in 2018, where they studied photography (parttime). In 2021/2022 they received the Artist Start Grant by Mondriaan Fonds.

The filmmaker collects notes on the Jewish water ritual mikvah, which slip into immersive recollections of memories. Mikvah, directly translated as a ‘collection [of water],’ is a ritual immersion in water that revolves around the body’s innate holiness and marks transitions—both physical and transcendent, minute and tectonic. It becomes the visual language and essayistic frame for exploring the filmmaker’s own experiences and ideas.

As information and images are gathered, and the details and meanings of the mikvah ritual are understood, so too are the filmmaker’s feelings and thoughts that led them to create this film. As the memories recalled underwater draw closer to the present day, the truths they reclaim become an offering on the way we evolve and love.

Over time, as indicated by light breaking in over a washing machine at the end of a corridor, the filmmaker collects notes on the Jewish water ritual mikvah. The visuals repeat sequences, moving from a wider, bare domestic space towards water and then underwater, while accompanied by a voice-over. These information-rich notes transition into reflections and eventually memories. During these underwater moments of recollection, poetic writing and immersive soundscapes suggest new interpretations of the long-held, almost block-color images—where a bath becomes a dancefloor and a full sink transforms into a bedroom after sex.

The screening of the short film will be accompanied by an informal opportunity for viewers to engage in their own self-reflection through fantasy and memory. On this date, there will also be a Q&A session with the director.

About Asha Sumroy

Asha Lyons Sumroy is an artist and researcher from London, whose work is often auto-ethnographic, understanding telling-the-self as an act of reclamation and resistance. Their thesis work ‘notes on mikvah’ is an act of “collecting the self”, exploring queerness, fluidity, collectivity, and change as a transgender Jew. The use of abstract image to prompt memory in this work has led them to continue exploring the role of fantasy/fantasising in queer memory and imagining.

Safa Kamdideh is a trans-disciplinary artist and researcher who explores the intersections of art, culture, and mysticism. With her background in Cinema and Theater studies, she has engaged in various artistic projects in Tehran and the Netherlands, focusing on performance art, digital media, and technology. In her research, she delves into Western Esoteric traditions and Sufi Farsi poetry, aiming to analyze, deconstruct, and decolonize the appropriation of Middle Eastern culture by Western Esoteric currents. Safa utilizes her artistic talents to decipher, translate, and perform an embodied interpretation of the symbolic Farsi poetry of Rumi and Hafez. Embracing the aesthetics and methodologies of Queer art and linguistics, she challenges norms and pushes boundaries. Her latest project, ‘HafezKhani/Reciting Hafez,’ premiered at Utrecht Café Theater Festival in March 2023.

Experience the diverse world of queer identities and experiences at the Queer Films & Art Exhibition hosted at ROZENSTRAAT. From July 30th to August 6th, immerse yourself in a captivating collection of works by talented artists, including Elçin Acun, Julieta Tetelbaum, 河边哼歌 Hebianhengge, Asha Sumroy, Mees Elias van Zanten, Yumi Maes, Marijn Kuijper, Rik Versteeg, and Erik Alkema.

Through various mediums like photography, film, illustration, and performance art, these artists challenge norms and advocate for inclusivity. The exhibition’s narratives question societal norms, celebrate self-expression, and create healing spaces for both the artists and viewers.

Don’t miss this thought-provoking showcase that delves into the heart and soul of the queer experience. Mark your calendar from July 30th to August 6th and explore the power of art in redefining boundaries and fostering understanding.

INCOMPLETE is a one-queer-person sci-fi reading performance project looking to defy the conservative social (and internalised) constructions around love (directly) and the life-death polarisation (indirectly). The material is ongoing, constantly developing and growing. None of the public reading performances of INCOMPLETE are alike. The text expands and transforms for each performance.

During this performance we are invited to fall in love with planets and robots and overcome the fear of the vulnerability that our connection to the present moment poses. The experience of the present moment, is understood here as incomplete, awkward, multilayered, simultaneously reeking in clarity and the lack of it. What are the similarities between our connection to otherness and our connection to the present moment? The material is inconsistent and belongs to the realms of daydreaming. Intimacy is fragile and indestructible at the same time. In the space that it creates we are faced with the dangers of deconstructing love beyond recognition. Will this deconstruction lead us to unimaginable discoveries? Will our hearts be blown open and reveal their tender secrets ? Can we thrive by magnifying the gap between utopian and dystopian love?

About Birds WG

Birds WG is a healer, writer, and performance artist based in Rotterdam. Their work focuses on the complexity of the human condition and the universe. They believe in diversity and dialogue as methodologies for conflict resolution and peace. They believe that words and images are indisputable healing forces. They write fiction, non-fiction, poetry, lyrics, and text for performance. Since 2007 their performance work is an ongoing research project on how to create transcendental experiences of the written and spoken word.

Kevin Gumbs, originally from Aruba, is a dance teacher, maker and performer.

Kevin Gumbs, originally from Aruba, is a dance teacher, maker and performer.

Due to rain outdoor guided tours pride photo are cancelled

Pride Photo Tour

Due to rain outdoor guided tours pride photo are cancelled

Pride Photo Tour

Discover “Respect,” a collaborative exhibition by artists Quoc Thang and Hyun Yeu. The theme of Respect comes to life through 5 prints featured on limited edition scarves, hoodies, t-shirts, and more. Additionally, short movies and photos will be displayed at the Hunq store during opening hours and the party. All items will be available for purchase online and offline at Laboratory K.

Ruis is a captivating theatrical performance that delves into the minds of young LHBTIQ+ individuals in an ostensibly tolerant Netherlands. Join us as we share the personal stories of eleven queer youths and their unique perspectives on the world. Ruis! Doubts arise, quests are embarked upon, and amidst the friction with the world, there is celebration. Experience the exuberance of Queer joy!

More information

Canal Pride participation 3Layers boat.

22.06.2023 — 07.01.2024

The Amsterdam Museum hosts an exhibition titled “Gay Games ‘98: A Queer Retrospective” initiated by the LGBTQ Humans of Amsterdam photo and exhibition project, in collaboration with various stakeholders. The exhibition explores the Gay Games 1998, which put Amsterdam on the map as the Gay Capital of the world. However, LGBTQ+ individuals of color, transgender, non-binary, and intersex people were less visible in Dutch society at the time. The exhibition aims to seek and share these missing stories. Additionally, there will be various events and (Queer gaze-) guided tours during and after the Queer & Pride period.

25.07.2023 — 06.08.2023

Silicone sealant and lighting object / woolen Berber carpet (made in Morocco) / ink on mirror

About Geke Lensink
Geke Lensink lives and works in Amsterdam. She works as an artist and designer.