Shanghai, China
This exhibition focused on the topic of:
“Contemporary Digital African Art : Connecting Humanity through Shared Experiences
(A Virtual Reality Exhibition)”
My presentation and VR exhibition built a strong case for the space of art in shedding a light on unseen and under-represented narratives thus helping us to connect with one another through our shared experiences.
From love, loss, hopelessness, despair, joy, passion, doubt, you name it, we are all living through it and it is nice to know that we are not alone out here.
Recap:
On June 26th, Queer Talks hosted three bilingual forums for Rainbow Month at the Goethe Institut ( Department of Culture and Education of the German Consulate General Shanghai. T): Trans Rainbow, Black Rainbow, and Generational Rainbow. The audience composed of approximately 70% Chinese nationals and 30% expats, representing a coalition of queer folk and allies alike.
扼要重述：
6月26日，Queer Talks酷儿讲座在歌德学院（文化教育系）举办了三个彩虹月双语论坛：跨彩虹、黑色彩虹和跨世代彩虹。听众由大约70%的中国人和30%的外籍人士组成，他们代表着酷儿们以及酷儿们的联盟。
Event Summary
Trans Rainbow facilitated a majority Chinese panel representing a spectrum of gender minorities. One panellist was the founder of Trans Brotherhood China, an organisation that explicitly serves the needs of the transmasculine and non-binary community. Another panellist was a member of Trans Talks, a Shanghai based organisation that mobilises to assist the Chinese trans community through mental/physical health services, community building, and alterations to official documents. The panel discussed multiple topics including challenges with family, the workplace, and within the queer community.
跨彩虹进行了一个多数听众为华人的小组讲座。该小组代表了一系列的性少数群体。有位小组成员是跨兄弟会（Trans Brotherhood China）的创始人，这是一个明确服务于跨男性和非二元性别社区的组织。另一位组员是Trans Talks的成员，Trans Talks是一家总部位于上海的组织，旨在通过精神/身体健康服务、社区建设以及官方文件修正来帮助华人界的酷儿社区。小组讲座讨论了多个议题，包括家庭、工作场所，以及酷儿社区内所面临的各种挑战。
Black Rainbow featured a variety of Black Queer experiences from Kenya, South Africa, and the United States. The forum kicked off with a Virtual Reality Art Exhibition showcasing the works of various Queer Kenyan artists. This was followed by a transformative South African drag queen performance and a heavily engaging personal story on finding love as a Black person in China. The forum was concluded by dual spoken word performances in Xhosa and English by the founders of RiverRoots, SS.Tribe, and CFInc. RiverRoots is an organic, handmade brand that moisturises and gives healing energies to the mind, body and soul. SS.Tribe Collective, is a global, collaborative, creative art project established during the 2020 pandemic. CFInc is an art lifestyle brand that serves as a creative manifesto for consciously diverse communities worldwide.
黑色彩虹精选了来自肯尼亚、南非，和美国的各类黑人酷儿的经历。论坛以一场虚拟现实艺术展拉开序幕，展示了肯尼亚酷儿艺术家的作品。紧接着是一场精彩的南非女装酷儿表演，以及关于一位在中国的黑人寻找爱情的故事。论坛结束时，RiverRoots、SS.Tribe和CFInc的创始人用科萨语和英语进行了双语表演。RiverRoots是一个有机的手工制作品牌，滋润心灵，给予身体和灵魂愈合的能量。SS.Tribe Collective是一个全球性的协作与创造性的艺术项目，在2020年的疫情期间建立。CFInc是艺术生活方式品牌，为全球的多样化社区提供创意宣言。
Generational Rainbow facilitated a majority Chinese panel whose stories served to bridge generational gaps within the queer community. We heard from the founder of the Oral History of Older Gay Men in Canton, and listened to the words of a mother who volunteers for PFLAG China (now known as True Self), and publicly speaks about her acceptance of her gay son. Finally, we concluded the day with the founder of ShanghaiPRIDE, Ladies Who Tech, and Diversity and Inclusion Company, whose words resonated with everyone in the room: “ShanghaiPRIDE may no longer exist but that doesn’t mean there is no Pride in Shanghai!”
跨世代彩虹进行了一个多数听众为华人的小组讨论，他们的故事填补了不同时代的酷儿群体中的代沟。首先是广州“老年男同志口述史”创办人发言，接着是一位为PFLAG中国（现称为“True Self”）做志愿者的母亲的话，并公开谈论了她接受自己的同志儿子的情况。最后，我们与上海骄傲的创始人、科技女士 (Ladies Who Tech) 和多元化与包容公司（Diversity and Inclusion Company）一起结束了这一天。 他们结束语引起了在座各位的共鸣：“上海骄傲可能已经不存在了，但这并不意味着上海没有骄傲！”
Michael Muli 