Consider the paradoxical nature of the unicorn as a queer symbol. On the one hand, the unicorn is mythical – it does not exist – but on the other it is also a magical being, and serves as a powerful symbol of queerness. Can we imagine the possibility of some magical excess emerging from invisibility and erasure in queer performance – something not previously known or knowable? Can absence itself be thought of as a queer kind of presence and appropriated as a queer performance strategy?

Unicorn Research Labs are a series of workshops focused around the issue of queer presence in performance. Is presence a question of technique? How can we approach this question from a queer perspective? How can we challenge what it means to be present, queering the dichotomy between presence and absence? There will be three in total, each dealing with some relation to absence not as a lack, but as part of a spectrum of possible ways of be(com)ing.

“Space Is the Place” is the final workshop in this series, exploring these questions in relation to space. It is happening on 21-22 and 24 April, from 1-5pm at the Theatre Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki. It is open to anyone, whether or not they identify as queer. Participants may sign up for the entire workshop or one or two afternoons. The language used will be English.

Please email david.frankovich@uniarts.fi to register, or if you have any questions.

What: Unicorn Research Labs: “Space Is the Place” Workshop
Where: Theatre Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki, Haapaniemenkatu 6, Helsinki
When: 21-22 and 24 April (1-5pm)
Cost: FREE

Consider the paradoxical nature of the unicorn as a queer symbol. On the one hand, the unicorn is mythical – it does not exist – but on the other it is also a magical being, and serves as a powerful symbol of queerness. Can there be the possibility of some magical excess emerging from invisibility and erasure in queer performance – something not previously known or knowable? Can absence itself be thought of as a queer kind of presence and appropriated as a queer performance strategy?

Unicorn Research Labs are a series of workshops focused around the issue of queer presence in performance. Is presence a question of technique? How can we approach this question from a queer perspective? How can we challenge what it means to be present, problematizing the dichotomy between presence and absence? There will be three in total, each dealing with some relation to absence not as a lack, but as part of a spectrum of possible ways of be(com)ing.

“Stillness Is the Move,” the second workshop in this series will explore stillness in relation to movement. The workshop will happen on 18-19 April, from 10am to 2pm at the Theatre Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki. They are open to anyone, whether or not they identify as queer. Participants may sign up for one or both mornings. Please bring comfortable clothes for moving around in. The language used will be English.

Please email david.frankovich@uniarts.fi to register, or if you have any questions.

What: Unicorn Research Labs: “Stillness Is the Move” Workshop
Where: Theatre Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki, Haapaniemenkatu 6, Helsinki
When: 18-19 April (10am – 2pm)

Consider the paradoxical nature of the unicorn as a queer symbol. On the one hand, the unicorn is mythical – it does not exist – but on the other it is also a magical being, and serves as a powerful symbol of queerness. Can there be the possibility of some magical excess emerging from invisibility and erasure in queer performance – something not previously known or knowable? Can absence itself be thought of as a queer kind of presence and appropriated as a queer performance strategy?

Unicorn Research Labs are a series of workshops focused around the issue of queer presence in performance. Is presence a question of technique? How can we approach this question from a queer perspective? How can we challenge what it means to be present, problematizing the dichotomy between presence and absence? There will be three in total, each dealing with some relation to absence not as a lack, but as part of a spectrum of possible ways of be(com)ing.

“Enjoy the Silence,” the first workshop in this series will explore sound, voice, silence, listening, text and score. It will take place 30 March – 1 April from 10-17 and 2 April from 10-15 at the Theatre Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki. Participants are asked to bring 3 songs that they connect with that they know the words to and 3 materials they are drawn to that produce a sound. Participation is open to anyone, whether or not they identify as queer. The language used will be English.

Space is limited. Email david.frankovich@uniarts.fi to reserve a space.

What: Unicorn Research Labs: “Enjoy the Silence” Workshop
Where: Theatre Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki, Haapaniemenkatu 6, Helsinki
When: 30 March – 1 April (10-17), 2 April (10-15)

In our present situation we have an urgent need to come back together. The MA students in the Live Art and Performance Studies programme at TeaK invite you to join us and share your thoughts and ideas at a five day conference on emergent practice, taking place in May, 2015. We welcome proposals from artists, students and independent scholars from different fields for performances, installations, media artworks, workshops, papers and discussions for the 5th LAPSody International Festival and Conference on this year’s theme:

Emergent, Emergence, Emergency

We are also requesting proposals for texts and visual projects on the same theme for a publication to be released in conjunction with LAPSody. This is an opportunity for the presented papers to be published as well as interviews, artist texts, poetry, prose, visual essays, photography and drawings.

Deadline for proposals: 31 December, 2014.

For more details, visit lapsody.tumblr.com.

A wunderbaum dangling from his penis – wood, mops and brooms attached to his body, with the light scent of pine. The audience could only see David Frankovich through a hole in the door, as he jumped up and down, till the wunderbaum fell to the ground (so I heard). What I saw (later on) was an act of detachment from brooms, mops and wooden sticks – cutting them down and releasing himself. Making his way out off a jungle, with a machete. Off with nature and bad habits. As rubble and shit lies all around him.

– Mads Floor Andersen