QUEERING THE GA(Y)ZE

15 Feb – 1 March 2025

Bag Factory is pleased to present Queering the Ga(y)ze: A Public Dialogue Series, convened by Nala Xaba and Noma Pakade, in association with the British Council. 

Over three Saturdays, discussions will explore various sites of queer cultural expression, namely: The Shelf, The Gallery, and The Streets. By emphasising space and place, we engage the complex intertextuality of queer histories. Each space produces varying levels of accessibility, archival value and visibility. In a society still marked by extreme inequality, the programme asks: How is our visibility site-specific?; How do we celebrate diverse voices while avoiding the entrapments of homo-nationalism and pinkwashing?; What is required for strengthening solidarities across space, time, and artistic media? How do we reclaim our archives?

Art mirrors social life and the situatedness of queer identities. The queer community no longer operates primarily from places of absence and victimisation – but from catalogues of visibility. The challenge becomes how to expand in ways that allow continuities and amplify artistic expression across diverse narratives.

*Discussions will culminate in three watch parties across three cities (The Screen) showcasing selections from the British Council’s annual Five Films for Freedom Festival. Watch this space for more details.