As part of the “Organic work” cycle you have created a video piece about the LGBT community in Belarus.
Tell us more about it.
In 2010, we announced an open call for an idea or scenario for a performance, and since that time, we have been doing performances based on the winners' scenarios. "Organic Work" touches upon the problem of social identity, self-determination, and a change of consciousness. In 2010 Pavel Leshkovich, curator of the most important LGBT exhibition in Poland, took part in our competition and submitted the following: “Script of a video performance commissioned by the Belarusian group Bergamot for the ARS HOMO EROTICA exhibition at the National Museum in Warsaw. As the curator of the ARS HOMO EROTICA exhibition, I am entering a competition for a performance script for the Bergamot group. Thus, I participate in the artistic project of the group. I believe that curators should have the right to select works of art for an exhibition, but they should not come up with works – for or instead of artists – but according to the wishes of Raman and Volga, I present them my scenario. This form of participation in the exhibition was the idea of the artists themselves.
The name of the requested performance – "Queer Belarus"
Medium – video performance
Duration – longer than 1 minute, shorter than 5 minutes.
Language – Polish with English subtitles or English with Polish subtitles.
The deadline for the performance execution and its submission to the curator for approval – June 1st, 2010.
The purpose of the performance should be to present the legal, social, and cultural situation of gays and lesbians in Belarus today. Europe is very interested in human rights in Belarus, the Poles are worried about the fate of the Polish minority, let's also raise the issue of sexual minorities in this extraordinary country. Moreover, proposals for organizing a pride parade in Minsk are being heard more often.
I am asking artists of the Bergamot group to get acquainted with the situation of gays and lesbians in Belarus, to undertake a study of this topic, learn the history of emancipatory movements, to interview members of the organization.
Based on the collected material, I am asking you to create a brief imitation of the Belarusian television program, informing about the situation around gays and lesbians in Belarus.
It is this program, where artists will participate in the roles of TV hosts or experts, should be the artists' video performance. The presented material should reflect the specifics of the situation around gays and lesbians in their country, as well as inform the public about the most notable incidents, phenomena, activists, and actions. As part of the television program convention, artists have the right to use their fantasy, provided that they reflect сrucial and notable news regarding the topic.
Pavel Leshkovich".