This is how Trans Art Week was experienced in Montevideo

Montevideo's Trans Art Week took place between April 9th and 15th. This initiative aims to give visibility to trans people and foster connections for their artistic and cultural development.

April 18, 2018

Photos: Mariana Greif and Juan Manuel Ramos* Between April 9 and 15, Montevideo's Trans Art Week took place. This initiative aims to give visibility to trans people and foster connections for their artistic and cultural development. Artistic coordination was handled by Leho de Sosa and Delfina Martínez, and the Montevideo Municipality's Diversity Secretariat was instrumental in its organization. Using the hashtag #LeyTransYA (Trans Law NOW), this event also promotes the approval of the comprehensive bill for trans people currently under parliamentary debate in Uruguay. The week kicked off on Monday with the show "Que otros sean lo normal" (Let Others Be Normal), by Susy Shock and her Hummingbird Flock, at the Zitarrosa Hall. The opening act was Samantha Navarro. The hall was packed, with many trans people who were able to attend—perhaps for the first time—a performance in a municipal venue. The Montevideo Gay Men's Choir performed at the Florencio Sanchez Theater. On Tuesday, Fuega—a trans textile cooperative—hosted a textile design workshop with Rosario San Juan (producer of MoWeek), Noelia Gonda (designer), Agustín Chaves (advertising costume designer), and Morena Ferreira (model). One of the week's objectives was to foster concrete ways for trans people to connect with people from diverse backgrounds. This workshop served precisely to promote these networks. The week continued with "Dissident Actor ," an activity featuring dissident actors and actresses who challenge the stereotypes present in everyday life and the collective imagination. It created a space for reflection on the topic, particularly regarding the commonplaces of feminine or feminized identities. On Wednesday, " Beings of Light ," a photography exhibition at the Mexican Embassy, opened, illustrating the trans identities of people living in Mexico. Susy Shock performed at the Zitarrosa Hall. "Teen Trans ," the first manga about adolescence and trans identity, was presented They are heroes without secret identities, who acquire their superpowers when they reveal themselves. The characters are inspired by various trans activists from the Río de la Plata region, including Morena Ferreira, Delfina Martínez, and Susy Shock. Lohana Berkins, an Argentinian trans activist who passed away two years ago, is also remembered. On Thursday, there was a symposium on queer art festivals. Sasha Sathya closed the day at the Spanish Cultural Center. On Friday, another symposium took place, organized by SAT. It fostered an exchange between artists, cultural managers, and gallery directors. Dani Umpi performed at the Contemporary Art Space. As the week drew to a close, the celebrations began. On Saturday, Llamale H held its party, and the closing event was on Sunday at the Contemporary Art Space, in the afternoon, with the explicit intention of bringing trans culture out of the nightlife scene. The chosen venue was not random; occupying and reinterpreting this former prison through trans art was one of the reasons for this selection. A week in which transgender people showcased their art has come to a close. The approval of the comprehensive law for transgender people, which would enshrine rights for the country's most vulnerable population, remains pending. * This article is published in partnership with the Feminisms section of la diaria.

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