Thrilled that in a few days @Lasana_Shabazz performs at The Circus of the Oppressed! Lasana Shabazz is a performance artist, writer and director whose work incorporates theatre, dance, spoken word, visual art. They work in art galleries, theatres, arts festivals, museums, educational institutions Black, queer and QTIPOC art spaces internationally. (The Progressive Arts Institution prefers) The Circus of the Oppressed on Tuesday 2nd July @space_studios_london! 6-9pm. SPACE 129-131 Mare St, Hackney, London E8 3RH. Wheelchair accessible. Marvellous Marginalised Artists Perform Inspiring Acts of Fearless Resilience! Works on paper by @TextaQueen and performances by @KrishnaIstha, @JacobVJoyce @Lasana_Shabazz and @TravisAlabanza, plus Mattie Loyce @Yea.Mattie as your RingMaster. This event is supported by @AusCouncilArts and @Acme.Art [Image description: Marker portrait in profile of a black person with shaved head, their face and head painted white, they wear a white feather boa and white corset their dark brown arm is at their side. The digital background is light and lighter blue thick curvy lines with yellow stars] #TheCircusOfTheOppressed #Tokenism #DiversityCircus #LasanaShabazz (at London, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzQvaXhgiuF/?igshid=159vphgezty0w

I’m exhibiting a selection of works from Eve of Incarnation at Gazes and Spaces 20-25 June at queer qandī fest and arts and activism festival in Cambridge. As part of the festival I’ll be speaking on a panel 530pm 20 June at Waterstones with Dr Nour Abu Assad, Dr Senthorun Raj and Ornella Ospino. Thanks @qti_coalition for the invitation. #eveofincarnation #gazesandspaces Image: detail of Ignitor, 2016 [Image description: A brown femme standing leaning back majestically in golden light on a yellow sandy shore amongst dry tree branches or trees rising from sand. Their naked body is draped in strands of brown kelp and they hold a divining rod in one hand. The low horizon of ocean is deep blue-green and the cloudy sky is various shades of dusky blue] (at Waterstones Cambridge) https://www.instagram.com/p/By2F_BOA-Yg/?igshid=1ieca759172av

Roll up! Roll up! (The Progressive Arts Institution prefers) The Circus of the Oppressed... Marvellous Marginalised Artists Perform Inspiring Acts of Fearless Resilience! Works on paper by TextaQueen and performances by @KrishnaIstha @JacobVJoyce @Lasana_Shabazz and @TravisAlabanza, plus Mattie Loyce as your Ringmaster. TextaQueen has tamed and trained the circus as allegory to satirically describe experiences of minority artists in institutional contexts. This series in progress is informed by their year as a State Library of Victoria @library_vic Creative Fellow where they studied the Library archives of circus, magic and political posters and created in conceptual collaboration with 10gentle collective. Alongside these wondrous works on paper, a stupendous selection of diverse and delectable performers present their own creative counters to the terrors of tokenism. ‪Tuesday 2nd July ‬ ‪6pm-9pm‬ @ SPACE ‪129-131 Mare St, Hackney, London E8 3RH‬. Free event Booking highly recommended via Eventbrite (link in bio) Wheelchair accessible Supported by : @AusCouncilArts for the Arts and @ACME.art #thecircusoftheoppressed #diversitycircus #insitutionalartscomplex #diversity #tokenism [Image description: A digitally rendered imitating old circus posters, red border with white tick boxes. Background is a blue target with star, sprinkled with yellow stars. On top, in colourful fonts reads The Progressive Arts Institution prefers / The Circus of the Oppressed / Works on paper by TextaQueen / performances by / Krishna Istha / Jacob V Joyce / Lasana Shabazz /Travis Alabanza / + Ringmaster Mattie Loyce. Next to each name is a marker portrait of each brown/black queer/trans/non-binary performer in a pose. At bottom of poster, black font on yellow background reads Marvellous Marginalised Artists Present Inspiring Acts of Fearless Resilience: Tuesday 2nd July 6pm-9pm at Space 129-131 Mare St, Hackney, London E8 3RH. Free event * Booking highly recommended via Eventbrite * Wheelchair Accessible / Supported by : Australia Council for the Arts / ACME] (at SPACE Art + Technology) https://www.instagram.com/p/ByVzoaJgia7/?igshid=ytdkrc2huti9

Hey QTs of the South Asian diaspora in London right now - I’m still ‘casting’ for a new portrait series called Bollywouldn’t. Looking for a few more folks to conceptually collaborate and pose for portraiture in the style of Bollywood (and other Desi) vintage movie posters, portraying storylines of de-colonial resistance to deconstruct the usual ‘isms of the genre. If you’d like more information please DM me with your email address and/or suggestions of people - tags and reposts welcome. I’m in London til the end of August, briefly Berlin in June. This pic is a detail of Exotic Escape from my previous re-imaginings of (future) history - 'We Don't Need Another Hero' series of post-apocalyptic movie poster portraits portraying BIPOCs as survivors of the apocalypses of colonialism. #bollywood #bollywouldnt #exoticescape #desi #decolonialfiction https://www.instagram.com/p/Bxk4flnltR6/?igshid=76j35xxfuck7

This poster was a collaboration with my dear friend fabian romero a few years and is available at the moment in limited number only through fabianromero.bigcartel.com along with their other beautiful collaborations with Ana Vonhuben @ana_piranha_. Fabian is currently raising money to attend the 2019 Tin House Writer's Workshop in Portland, Oregon to work with one of their poetry heroes, Natalie Diaz @ndinn. The workshop is intended to finalize a book of poetry and hopefully the final stage in getting their collection out to the public. fabian romero (Purepécha) is a two spirit poet, filmmaker, artist and P.h.D. student in Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies at the University of Washington. fabian’s academic and artistic interests integrate settler colonialism, Performance Studies, racial capitalism with storytelling and poetry. Their work centers Purépecha people from Michoacán, Mexico to Seattle, Washington and beyond. #reminders #fabianromero #indigenouspoet #chamomile #botanicaldrawing https://www.instagram.com/textaqueen/p/BxYQIyjlh2t/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=12sfemuuh6m3m

It’s the last day (Sunday May 5th) of Those Monuments Don’t Know Us @bundoorahomestead in which I have several works including Blessing, 2015. Thanks @andyray87 for curating mey work into this great array of diverse artists based in so-called Australia. ‘Australia has long defined itself by who does and doesn’t belong. Bundoora Homestead mansion is an iconic monument of a time where the exclusion of non-European and non-Anglo-Saxon people was written into law, as a founding principle. Those Monuments Don’t Know Us considers how this history has a habit of repeating, and explores the politics of ‘belonging’ in Australia, through a range of perspectives, including the work of First Nations and culturally and linguistically diverse artists. The featured artists are: Khadim Ali, Timmah Ball, Hayley Millar-Baker @hayleymillarbaker, Phuong Ngo @pthngo, James Nguyen, Nabilah Nordin, Diego Ramirez, Priya Srinivasan @srinivasan2728, TextaQueen and Siying Zhou. Curated by Andy Butler @andyray87 Please note, this exhibition features sensitive content. Viewer discretion is advised.’ Bundoora Homestead Art Centre, 7 Prospect Hill Drive, Bundoora - Wurundjeri land (at Bundoora Homestead Art Centre) https://www.instagram.com/textaqueen/p/BxDctnZltE9/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=gan3msco613d

New print Correspondence, a self portrait based on an 1897 Indian postage stamp of Queen Victoria. Swipe for pics of the installation at The Empire’s New Clothes up for a few more days @198_cal **but CLOSED TODAY for a memorial service ** Individual numbered and signed prints available for purchase £15 each at the show and online soon. Show ends this Fri May 3. @198_cal 198 Railton Rd SE24 0JT M-F 11-5. Wheelchair accessible. Visit me there Thu 130-5 #indianpostagestamp #selfportrait #desiredstate #diasporia #pardesi #birthdate #postcode #Repost @duplikatpress ・・・ Recent risograph prints for @textaqueen @198_cal - Teal & Burgundy on Corona Offset 190gsm paper . . . . . #Risograph #Riso #RisoPress #RisographPrint #RisographStudio #Duplikat #DuplikatPress #Printmaking #HackneyWick #TextaQueen #Stamp (at London, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/textaqueen/p/Bw6mHtXFsxr/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1bcnm71u9eod7

Love this pic of curator Mattie Loyce and I from our In Conversation on 18th April @198_cal, feels like us. It’s such a healing pleasure to work with someone who understands and appreciates you and your work. Thanks @yea.mattie, and thanks @mahfoozbegum for snapping our intimate dynamic. The Empire’s New Clothes continues until this Friday May 3rd, open M-F 11-5. 198 is at 198 Railton Rd SE24OJT. Wheelchair accessible. I’ll be in at the gallery Thursday from 130 but not in this outfit. #theempiresnewclothes #inconversation #infriendship #comfortableheels (at London, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/textaqueen/p/Bw1bji2Fle1/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1gwk4sxhwv80i

By popular demand or serendipitous circumstances, The Empire’s New Clothes is on for another week @198_cal 198 Railton Rd SE24 0JT M-F 11-5. Image: Speak, No? 2017 with deity by @m_i_stry. A self-portrait processing ideas of cultural connection on ‘returning to the Motherland’. Born relatively privileged in the diaspora whilst further distanced from language and culture than those raised in the colonised country of origin, I reflect on projecting ‘otherness’ onto those sharing tangential legacies yet living distant experiences. Women wearing dupattas from various regions of India float away behind me, an urban-resilient rhesus monkey covers my mouth while it screams a translation of my frustrated disconnection and a culpable colonial legacy possesses strained pupils. #speaknoevil (at London, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/textaqueen/p/BwrpkfCF0Jp/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1m4o9w6suisp2

Tonight! @ The Empire’s New Clothes @198_cal Brixton. Curator Mattie Loyce and I will be in conversation this eve Thursday 18th April 630-930pm. We’ll be talking about the work (what do you think this work means?) and what it is to attempt a decolonial practice. I’ll also be talking about my new project Bollywouldn’t that I’ve begun on my current ACME residency and looking out for more QT South Asian folks to pose and collaborate. This event is in partnership with ACME @acme.art and The Australia Council for the Arts @auscouncilarts ⁣ @ 198 Contemporary Arts 198 Railton Brixton London SE24 0JT⁣Rd Gallery opening times: Mon - Fri 11am - 5pm⁣. Wheelchair accessible. @198_cal is located at the junction between ⁣Railton Road and Hurst Street.⁣ Train: Herne Hill⁣ Tube: Brixton⁣ Buses: 322, 196, 3, 37, 201, 68, 468⁣ Image: Immaculate Conception, 2017 #immaculateconception #sacredcow #pregnancy #lactoseintolerance #milkyway (at London, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/textaqueen/p/BwZAMxTljJP/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=17i9uquxt9lf

London babes, hope to see you tomorrow at The Empire’s New Clothes @198_cal Brixton. Artist (that’s me) & Curator Mattie Loyce in Conversation is on this Thursday 18th April 630-930pm. We’ll be talking about the work and what it is to attempt a decolonial practice. I’ll also be talking about my new project Bollywouldn’t that I’ve begun on my current ACME residency and looking out for more QT South Asian folks to pose and collaborate. This event is in partnership with ACME @acme.art and The Australia Council for the Arts @auscouncilarts ⁣ @ 198 Contemporary Arts 198 Railton Brixton London SE24 0JT⁣Rd Gallery opening times: Mon - Fri 11am - 5pm⁣. Wheelchair accessible. @198_cal is located at the junction between ⁣Railton Road and Hurst Street.⁣ Train: Herne Hill⁣ Tube: Brixton⁣ Buses: 322, 196, 3, 37, 201, 68, 468⁣ Image: Sacred Landscape, 2017, pigmented indian ink, watercolour, coloured pencil and synthetic polymer paint on cotton paper, 127 × 97cm / 50 x 38 in. #gatewayofindia #sacredlandscape #ganges #deity #varanasi #goa #india (at London, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/textaqueen/p/BwWtLRslDBq/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=tt1q25smg3pi

The Empire’s New Clothes is on for another two weeks til Apr 26 @198_cal but the last event programmed is Artist & Curator Mattie Loyce in Conversation this Thursday 18th April 630-930pm. This event is in partnership with ACME @acme.art and The Australia Council for the Arts @auscouncilarts ⁣ 198 Contemporary Arts 198 Railton Brixton London SE24 0JT⁣Rd Gallery opening times: Mon - Fri 11am - 5pm⁣. Image: with new work Retribution and spicy shrine by Raju Rage @raju_rage and Daniella Valz Gen @daniella_vg (at 198 Contemporary Arts & Learning) https://www.instagram.com/textaqueen/p/BwSUVdYFozA/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1tq47qsbphnjv

#Repost @198_cal ・・・ Please Join us for a Queer Desi Social in celebration of TextaQueen's solo exhibition 'The Empire's New Clothes! "It’s time to disco!** Bombay mix with other queer and trans South Asians this Friday April 12th 6:30-9:30, at 198 CAL in South London. Light some incense to get incensed. Mehndi to mend hearts. Spicy snacks, tunes and coconut water provided. *Planned afterparty to the social --> COUSINS @ THE YARD w Nino Brown, BBC AZN Network, A.G & more  and Manara!! **also recently watched kal ho naa ho" The event will be hosted by TextaQueen & is open to the Queer Desi community, to create a community based space to socialise, get to know new people, and enjoy the artwork afterhours! Any questions email [email protected] #TextaQueen #Queer #Desi #decolonialart #decolonisenow (at 198 Contemporary Arts & Learning) https://www.instagram.com/textaqueen/p/BwEqbVUlXQ4/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1oconpn8kzlwr

pan across new work Correspondence installed for The Empire’s New Clothes @198_cal. An 1893 Indian postage stamp featuring Queen Victoria was the basis for the self portrait, the original overlayed black stamp detailing the British Raj State replaced with a marketing aspiration and the circular date stamp refigured with personalised details reflecting my position in the diaspora. Show runs Mon-Fri til Apr 26 at 198 Contemporary Art 198 Railton Rd Brixton London. Queer Desi Social this Fri 12th. Artist talk Thu 18th #diasporia #pardesi #foreigner #foreigncorrespondence #indiapostage #indiahostage #risograph #linocut (at 198 Contemporary Arts & Learning) https://www.instagram.com/textaqueen/p/Bv_aai8l7jo/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1fbv5nhj450yx

Raju Rage and Daniella Valz Gen blessing new work Retribution yesterday as they create one of their shrines. In their words... The shrines created by Raju Rage and Daniella Valz Gen / @daniella_vg for 'The Empires New Clothes' by TextaQueen draw out elements of each work in the God Save the Queen series with the intention to amplify their power, and to harness protection and healing from the historical and ongoing impact of British colonial violence. They channel the sensual aspects of the works into the space by evoking scent, taste and touch as an offering to the artist and the audience. Pics of the activated shrines to follow soon or if you’re in London come along to the opening @198_cal Brixton from 6pm to experience for yourself #theempiresnewclothes #retribution (at 198 Contemporary Arts & Learning) https://www.instagram.com/textaqueen/p/Bv3uvYfFzi7/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=16kjq1tljreec

Final stretch* of completing this big new work for The Empire’s New Clothes @198_cal Brixton, London, opening this Friday 5 April. *can’t stretch enough working this way. Thanks @ruthaquinoesta for bonding times, bending over forwards assisting in rendering this monster. There are times during the drawing process I find it hard to enjoy the process, caught up in the stress of deadlines and usually in body pain, even when not working at this angle. Having people assist me who understand the work and live tangents of my experience is rejuvenating as well as physically important. It’s often emotionally necessary to build me up before showing the work on white walls where that understanding is less likely to be found. This time round however I’m showing in a space which has centred black and brown artists for decades. Feeling as grateful to that legacy as the @auscouncilarts @acme.art residency that brought me here. #workinprogress #ergonomicnightmare #drawingblood (at London, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/textaqueen/p/BvuVj20Fuon/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1s4plo4g0qecd

I have several works in this show that I’m sad to miss #Repost @andyray87 ・・・ 'Those Monuments Don't Know Us' opens at Bundoora Homestead @bundoorahomestead this Saturday 16 March 2-4pm. Would be lovely to see you there. Been v. lucky to be able to work with such amazing artists on this project. With new and recent work from Khadim Ali @khadim96 Timmah Ball, Hayley Millar-Baker @hayleymillarbaker Phuong Ngo @pthngo James Nguyen @jamesnguyens Nabilah Nordin @nabnordin Diego Ramirez @diegoismonster Priya Srinivasan @srinivasan2728 TextaQueen @textaqueen and Siying Zhou @siying_z curated by yours truly. Image: TextaQueen 'Roots' 2016, fibre tips and watercolour on paper, 127x97cm (at Bundoora Homestead Art Centre) https://www.instagram.com/textaqueen/p/Bu8Z3vhFLt1/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=pfqq0fdtap9q