27/03/2026
Don’t miss: “Beautiful Dzadza (q***ring the concept of elopement)” by Salina Abaza
22.03, 10-15h
26.03, 9-16h
10.04, 17-19h
… and on demand [email protected]
ABOUT
The story of beautiful Dzadza has been hidden away in a time capsule waiting to be activated in other times and places such as Mz*Baltazar’s Laboratory. The time capsule takes the form of an old box. It contains different elements as “evidence” and “documents” of an elopement that took place in an undefined time in the Caucasus region between Dzadza and her lover, a woman. Among the documents are letters written in Abkhazian and Circassian languages, that were exchanged between the two, providing us today with backdrop information about the elopement and the nature of this relationship. The box also includes a song from Circassian folklore which is named after beautiful Dzadza and tells the story of her elopement.
The time capsule shows the patriarchal tradition of eloping through a q***r lens, drawing questions on the nature of what is real and historically true, considering the factual erasure of q***r history across the world.
About the Open Lab:
During the open lab, which navigates between curation, mediation, and participatory performance, Performatorium (Olivia Jaques/Marlies Surtmann) translates the work of Salina Abaza into the time and space of Mz* Baltazar’s Laboratory. The public is welcome to join this live process. No prior knowledge is required to attend the open lab. You are welcome to simply be present as an observer or to actively participate.
Come by! 🩶
