doing queerstories

Diamond Splinters, Kunsthalle Osnabrück (2022/23)

https://kunsthalle.osnabrueck.de/de/programm/diamond-splinters-osna-s-queerstory

Rectangular color shot of three people in a cozy room, of which, with the exception of the right, the faces are hidden by a large, opened newspaper. It is titled "diamond splinters" and is black and white. The middle person holds it on both sides, only the brown, short hair looks out over the newspaper, from the two left persons only dark jeans and an arm with a leather bracelet are to be seen.

Photo provided by the group Starkids – SHG Transkids, Families and Friends

 

Diamond Splinters – Osna’s Queerstories is an artistic research and mediation project that traces queer life and love in Osnabrück. With the Kunsthalle Osnabrück and in close cooperation with the curator Manila Bartnik, a series of events has emerged after lengthy research, many interviews and meetings such as the one with Dr. Diana Häs, who has been involved for many years. People have come together for queerwalks, soft dates, storytelling cafés, Coming-Out Day, the memorial day of Peter Hamel and many other formats to exchange ideas about Osnabrück’s queer past, present and future. The crowning glory is the newspaper Diamond Splinters, which appeared in January 2023 as a special supplement to the Osnabrück daily newspaper throughout the city – with it I return the stories, collections, traces and thoughts to the queer community of the city. The queer talk show and closing event was about Osna’s queer future, for which I sincerely wish all the wonderful local people nothing but beautiful things!

click here for the flyer showing all events (only in German)

click here for the newspaper (only in German)

Portrait cell phone screenshot with purple background and the photo of a person up to the waist, who has short brown hair and holds an open, colorful leaflet in his hand. In white letters at the top it says "Kunsthalle Osnabrück 22h" and below it "Queer Talk with Irène Mélix, @houseofudo, @houseoffluicy and @gayinmayev". A white ribbon with black writing runs across the person's photo. "What can Osnabrück's queer futures look like? Let's talk!" and at the bottom of the picture @Kunsthalle Osnabrück as well as "on 09.02.2023 from 7 pm in the warehouse. It will be a festival" with pink heart emoji.

My warm thanks go to the Kunsthalle Osnabrück, to the curator Manila Bartnik, to the graphic designer Hjördis Lyn Behncken, to the art education and photographers, proofreading, to the queer political groups in Osnabrück, to the archives and supporters. Above all, I would like to thank Dr. Diana Häs and all the interview partners. I thank them for the trust they have placed in me.

Landscape color photo of a person at the breakfast table in a bright room, left in the crop a beige couch, a small wooden table and white curtains. In the foreground on the right a coffee cup, a milk bottle a breakfast egg and rolls. The person is hidden behind the newspaper, which he holds open large and on the front of which is written "diamond splinters ". The newspaper is black and white and various sections of text are set irregularly across the page. diamond splinters - osna's queerstories, newspaper (2021)
Large format, opened newspaper on a white table, around it in the bleed an orange coffee cup, a roll, a breakfast egg and plate as well as cutlery. The newspaper is printed in black and white with different fonts and irregularly arranged text blocks. In between there are different graphic elements, on the right side there is a black flag with an A in a circle. Photos: Tim Deniz Heide
Large format, opened newspaper on a white table, around it in the bleed an orange coffee cup, a roll, a breakfast egg and plate as well as cutlery. The newspaper is printed in black and white with different fonts and irregularly arranged text blocks. In between there are various graphic elements, on the right side there is a black and white photo of two men walking arm in arm at the top and a large hand drawn heart at the bottom.
Landscape image of the newspaper, detail of a place where the paper was folded. Next to cut text blocks, the symbol of two interlocked circles with a cross turned downwards can be seen, a symbol for lesbians. From the text block above it can still be seen ... "with woman-loving greetings, the Osnabruecler Lesbengruppe (1982)."
Portrait color photo of a street, in the background a reddish house, on the first floor large windows and a long sign with the inscription "CONFUSION" and rainbow colors. In the foreground a group of about 11 people photographed from behind and moving towards the building. One person is pushing a stroller, all are wearing casual spring-like clothing. Queer walk with Dr. Diana Häs (07/2022)
Landscape color photograph taken in the interior of a bar with colorful light. On the left a person with beard and glasses behind a long counter, on the right a full bar room with many people standing in it. In the background windows with rainbow lambs, the bar room also decorated in rainbow colors. Soft Date/ Living Library @Confusion Gay Pub (09/2022) photo: M.
Landscape color photograph showing a lawn in the background, two rectangular sandstone-colored pillars in the foreground, cropped downwards. A brown plaque is attached to the front of each of the columns, the left one reads: "Here Peter Hamel was beaten to death on September 14, 1994, after he courageously defended himself against a homophobic attack and stood by the two victims" and the right one reads: "Memorial against homophobia and for civil courage. Courageously intervening against group-related misanthropy, standing up for each other in solidarity despite differences." Day and monument in memory of Peter Hamel (09/2022)
Landscape color photograph of a group standing on a lawn, colorfully dressed and looking into open notebooks, towards a person standing on the left edge of the picture with a guitar. One of the people in the group is sitting on a walker, one has a backpack on, another has a cap on, some have white hair. They seem concentrated. In the background some trees and buildings with red facades. photos: Joy Tönnies
Landscape color photo of a person in blue shirt and with brown long hair from past, who writes something on a white card on a golden box in front of her. Next to her on the right a postcard stand with many yellowish postcards (upright) and short blocks of black text on them. Around background a forecourt with cobblestones and a stone building with entrance door. lonely hearts, letterbox (2022)
Close-up of the postcard stand, in the left half of the picture blurred the golden, half-high box. On the yellowish postcards is written " Idealist (34Y.) wishes letters. Int.: Lit., music, travel, letters to DI, 109, DEWAG, 701 Leipzig, PSF 240" and "Freethinking couple, 37, 42, seeks for the purpose of later acquaintance for the time being stimulating correspondence with symp- lady ..." The rest of the text is hidden by the black postcard stand. photos: Lucie Marsmann
Polaroid depicting a person whole, looking at the camera. At the top of the picture a self-made sign "frilly plush" with colorful decorations and feathers all around. Also, a photo wallpaper with palm tree motif on the wall. In front of it stands the person with white cowboy boots, black shiny strap top and black jacket that fell over his shoulders. The person has his hands folded in front of his belly and looks challengingly into the camera, wears light brown long hair and a colorful shimmering dark skirt.
Polaroid photo of a person with long dark hairb wearing a shiny silver mask and a blue satin shiny frilly dress smiling at the camera while lifting one side of the dress with her right arm towards the left edge of the picture. In the background a black door frame and a window. Coming-out day @Kunsthalle Osnabrück (11/2022)
Polaroid photo of a person from behind with head and lower legs cut off and hands placed on hips. The person wears a tight-fitting suit with black big dots in rowsm over the back runs a zipper and on the lower back is a rake with a red frame and colorful balls attached to metal rods. The background is black.
Polaraid of a person from the front, seen from the waist. The background is dark, the person has long light brown hair that falls slightly over the neckline, a black jacket and a colorful shimmering top. She wears a mask with colorful sequins and a blue figure in the nose area. She sticks out her tongue.
Queformat color photo showing five people sitting on black leather armchairs in a stage situation with blue curtain in the background, two coffee tables with drinks in the foreground. The two people on the left look like drag queens, with elegant dresses and blond, tousled hair. The person in the middle has short brown hair, a shimmering gold jacket and holds a microphone, she looks at the person next to her with gelled blond hair, red lipstick and a colorful one-piece and pink glittery boots. This person also has a mic and is speaking straight, gesturing with one hand. The person on the right edge of the picture has short gray hair, a blue shirt, brown leather shoes and is facing the person who is speaking. Queertalk @Lagerhalle (02/2023)