BRABA.plataforma (POR)
Atlas da Boca
PART OF THE GENDERHOUSE FESTIVAL
Atlas da Boca explores two trans bodies through the mouth. As a symbol, the mouth becomes the interface between the public and the private, between the erotic and the political, between silence and the word that lasts.
Atlas da Boca discusses this symbolic space where the mouth becomes the interface between the public and the private, between the erotic and the political, between silence and the word that lasts. In these situations, the word becomes identity, affection, faith, and laughter. Like babies who discover the world by putting the world in their mouths: knowing the taste of the floor, the house keys, and their mother’s hair. We grow up and the mouth becomes a place farther from the hand, more elaborate, sober and superb.
In this collection of words that move from mouth to mouth and mouth to inside, Ary and I allow ourselves to overflow with some words in a very horizontal and unpretentious relationship with the public. We both transitioned past the age of 30 and are now starting to experience/be other words and experience the world in new positions. Despite being two trans people, our path within the show tries to encompass portions “reduced on high heat” of the experiences that anyone can face when loving, losing and finding themselves with the unknown.
The work asks about the word-gestures that we perform in the meetings, about the familiar and strange languages that pass through our body and about the moments in which the mouth stiffens, letting the word come out roaring. We have a curious insistence on our ability to hear with other parts of the body and with what the mouth tries to make eternal. We are like babies passing their mouths into existence and feeling some flavors for the first time.
REVIEWS
“Atlas da Boca is a refreshing take on gender identity, which doesn’t resort to the usual autobiographical tropes. The poetry of de Medeiros’s writing appeals to the imagination, while the humanity of the performances gives us space to feel for them both.”
– Dom Czapski, Springback Magazine
“While the experience they are sharing with us is utterly personal, we all have a body and skin. The world certainly needs more of such generous, humbling and thought-provoking works.”
– Elsa Vinet, Springback Magazine
“In a world where respect and understanding for the transgender community still has a mountain to climb, Atlas da boca is a beautiful celebration of bodies, humanity, difference and love.”
– Kelly Apter, Springback Magazine
ABOUT BRABA.PLATAFORMA (POR)
Gaya de Medeiros, 32 years old, choreographer and producer, Brasil.
She studied Animation Film and worked for 9 years as a dancer and co-creator at a Brazilian Dance Company. In Portugal, she worked with multiple creators. In 2022, she created her first piece, “ATLAS da BOCA”, premiered at the Alkantara Festival. She’s also created the piece “BAQUE” (Dec 22); “Pai para Jantar” (Apr 23) and is at the moment working on the piece “Cafézinho”. Gaya founded BRABA.plataforma which aims to support, enable and finance initiatives starring/directed toward the Trans community. As a choreographer, her research is situated in between dance, words and affections.
Ary Zara is a trans non binary multidisciplinary artist, 36 years old, based in Lisbon.
An AVOCADO PIT it’s Ary Zara’s first shortfilm, it premiered at Indie Lisboa 2022 and was recognized with the Audience award, New Talent Award and a Special Mention. Then followed festivals like BFI, AFI Fest (special mention leading act), Clermont Ferrand (Best Queer Short and Student Prize), Film Court Brest (Audience Award), Newfest LGBTQ, Interfilm, LSFF – (more to be announced). Ary Zara also works as creative director of Queer Art Lab – a platform that supports LGBTQI+ artists and the community. He is also an activist for trans rights working solo and with Isaac dos Santos on T Guys Cuddle Too. Most recently he integrated Braba as a performer – an artistic community for transgender and non binary artists.
Credits
Directed by:
Gaya de Medeiros
Co-creation and interpretation:
Ary Zara & Gaya de Medeiros Provocation
Conception and design of “Brief Atlas of the Mouth”:
João Emediato
Videos:
Ary Zara
Scenography and Lighting:
André Campos
Sound operator:
Milton Estevam
Costumes:
Naara Saturnino
Production:
Gaya de Medeiros
Co-production:
Alkantara
Companhia Olga Roriz
Creative support:
Self-Mistake