Friday
03
MAY
| 01:00 PM | Participatory Workshop: Queer Heritage-Making in Pakistan Imran Nafees Siddiqui (Pakistani artist, researcher and writer)
Within the realm of gender and sexuality, Pakistani society is constrained by patriarchal, heteronormative, and religious paradigms. Yet, beneath these surface structures lies a complex spectrum of queer experiences and identities, residing within subcultures yet to be fully explored. These lived human experiences are shaping and reshaping queer cultures, contributing to a rich and intricate heritage in which queer communities thrive, adding diverse colors to the fabric of existence.
This interactive workshop will explore the intermodal cultural nuances and stories from the making of queer heritage in Pakistan, delving into diverse identities and lived experiences. It illuminates the spectrum of gender and sexuality, revealing under-documented narratives. Participants engage in collective expression and critical dialogue and envision a more inclusive understanding of queer life in Pakistani society.
The workshop will delve into themes such as masculinity, femininity, androgyny, gender constructs, love, desire, power dynamics, relationships, community, identity, legality, threats, and existence—exploring how these concepts manifest within queer cultures and contribute to the shaping of heritage. Additionally, the workshop will provide insight into the contrast between queer life in Pakistan, South Asia, and the North. The workshop will facilitate the participants’ collective expression through creativity and imagination. This collaborative process aims to foster empathy, solidarity, and mutual support among participants, creating a safe space in which diverse voices can be heard and valued.
Convener:
Imran Nafees Siddiqui is a Pakistani visual and perform(ance)ing artist who believes in the power of art for social and political change. His association with a variety of projects is based on the basic premise of disrupting the status quo and questioning power structures. As an artist he has turned his vulnerability and sensitivity into an epistemological position that leads to the production of artistic knowledge which is complex, multilayered, and encourages dialogue. Address 4400 400.02.12 Voßstraße 2 69115 Heidelberg Organizer SAI, Abt. Ethnologie Homepage Organizer https://www.sai.uni-heidelberg.de/ethno/ Contact Dr. Philipp Zehmisch |