I was contacted by a few performance artists during the call out for artists and this took me by surprise because I hadn’t considered that before. I don’t really know why other than it’s not really my particular corner of art, but I thought it was cool. Interestingly the majority of them were also sex workers, something I’m not however surprised about. I think this is becoming more common and I was happy to connect some of them to the Decrim Futures collective who are sex workers making art about their experiences whist also organising and advocating for sex workers rights.
I’ve mentioned before that the debate around sex work and it’s relationship to the Porn Conversation is alive and well and very divisive within contemporarily feminism. Gen Z are strong proponents for the decriminalisation and democratisation of sex work. I think, however, and I’m not alone in an older Gen X/Millenial view here, that it’s important not to conflate the two, they’re not the same thing. This feeds into one of my current obsessions arising from this project at large : the concept of self objectification as empowerment. Gen z whilst being wonderfully open about sex and sexuality in some ways at times seem in danger of having normalised the idea that all sex work is empowerment and is a choice. Whilst yes sex work isn’t necessarily synonymous with a history of abuse it’s really important not to forget the role it can play in VAWG.
I have spent the last few weeks trying to put together an evening event of performance and a talk with the Sleec Project but it seems to not be happening now as logistics etc couldn’t quite get aligned. On the one hand I thought it would be great and a new challenge for me, something I’ve never tried to put on before and my knowing little about performance. So a new artistic process. I was looking forward to having a discussion/panel but of course also worried about getting people through the door. I always hated this when I would do Feminist Film Club events in London at a small independent cinema. The performers, a slam poet with a poem about porn addiction, a 30 minute performance by sex work and art collective Fimbo Futures, an art installation by sex worker artist Cocaine Kiss and then a discussion with the founders of survivor led Sleec Project supporting survivors and tackling the roots of male violence. I think it would have been good and have submitted it as a possible event for the festival at CSM instead. So maybe we’ll still get to do it, who knows. Sleec in particular are doing very important work and I would like to champion them anyway I can.
On the other hand I don’t think it’s the end of the world. I am really busy with the show and everything else on MAAI and I will soon have Christmas and Mabel’s birthday to contend with. There is no harm in saying this isn’t the time and could easily try again next year if I want to. I’m still hoping that there will be some smaller discussion events during the show but I think I’m going to aim for something much more low key and manageable and try to concentrate on getting a wider range of responses to the show instead.