‘Perception of Queer Love’ - Video Creation 1/2

“Silence=Death/Action=Life“

The addio is a piece of art that I put together using found audio from political and new reporting videos on the transgender and queer community.

The video is of my partner and I. I wanted to have a grainy, dim-lit video to convey the research I’ve done for this project on the historical side of how queer people lived and got by in different time periods. I discovered old photographs of queer people living their lives just like we do now but definitely a lot different to how we do.

It would be such a shame to have to live with the fears and public opinion they had back then if we continue to go in this backwards way. I can’t imagine how brave they had to be themselves back then or live knowing their life could be in danger if anyone found out, we shouldn’t still live like that, yes it’s better. But I know a lot of queer individuals, myself included, still have to live in caution.

Comment on how the video and audio made you feel/think on YouTube, I’d love to hear feedback and see what others think. Feedback helps my practice and artwork.💭 🏳️‍🌈

Using a found audio I made during the last project I had in my second year; I tweaked the audio to match this new project more so and used it within a video concept instead of a stand-alone audio piece to give the video impactful audio. One that brought emotions of all kinds, like stages of grief while watching and listening in the show setting. The audio has had feedback from peers as being sad but in an impactful awareness way. Paired with the passionate, intimate video showing a couple (myself and my partner) it hits the heart for romance and justice for the injustice being done to LGBT individuals. Just like how there was a target on gay people and their rights not even 30 years ago and it ended up being the wrong side of an argument, trans people are the new target, being attacked for something as simple as their identity.

I’m hoping the effect of playing the two videos for this project back-to-back is to switch from an angry, upset and concerned/scared tone of viewing the work of passion and love and hearing politicians and media say horrible and worrying things to a song that brings out the intimacy and desire of the work.

The two videos are dim-lit and grainy which we couldn’t figure out how to get the cameras to record in a blacklight studio nicely but I love the effect and we went with it. It turned out better than I had originally planned. The grainy texture and dim light give it this raw feeling. It connects to the historical side and where they used to have to hide, ignore parts of themselves or become a part of the underground clubs and this community that was formed for Queer people to thrive in those times. So, in a sense, it’s a modern-day video capturing the historical quality of photo and video graphics while addressing issues of today and showing how much times have changed for the better as well. Something like this being done even 50 years ago would not have been as celebrated or widely accepted. Seeing a queer couple act loving or being together would have been, I'm so grateful to be able to make art and be in a relationship as I can as many people even today cannot be, which is why I think this message and artwork is important to make a voice and speak for those who cannot yet in a world that does seem to be trying to go backwards.

This video was made as a part of my Second Year University project ‘Fine Art In Society’ where I explored Queer Theory and the Social Stigma of Queer relationships and people using my relationship as the centre.