The Beach is Calling and We Must Go [for Danica]
Artist Statement
While lockdowns affected people in a lot of ways, its effects have been felt differently for queer and trans people. Anyone who has come out or was in the process of coming out within the last few months has had their opportunity to redefine their place and identity in society stolen from them. Now they remain in a weird temporal stasis, waiting for whatever new normal emerges to allow them to experience everything they planned, hoped, and dreamed.
In late 2019, my partner Danica came out as trans and started her transition. One of the things we were both most looking forward to in summer 2020 was the opportunity to go on a beach holiday where she could be herself, wearing a bikini and enjoying the sunshine. When the pandemic hit, with borders being closed and flights cancelled, all of those dreams went up in smoke. Rather than wallowing in the despair of it all, I wanted to give her the beach holiday she so craved within the confines of our living room.
For “The Beach is Calling and We Must Go [for Danica]” we decided to perform our own digitally-conjured queer holiday.
About the Artist
Émilie-Christine Newman is a queer Canadian artist living and working in London, UK. She completed her MFA from the Slade School of Fine Art in 2016, earning her the Bernice Goodwin Prize for excellence in performance. She has exhibited and performed works across Europe and North America.
You can discover more of her work on her website or Instagram: @emilieluxul
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