Artistic repose and relaxation flourish at a Tuscan dwelling, catering to black queer artists.
In the heart of Tuscany, the MQBMBQ residency, founded by Jordan Anderson, has been a beacon for Black queer artists for the past five years. This unique artist residency program is renowned for its dual emphasis on artistic collaboration, cultural safety, and rest, creating a vital and essential space for these artists in the region.
Four artists were invited to the retreat this year: Justen Leroy, Precious Okoyomon, YAV, and Elliot Jerome Brown Jr. The retreat was designed by Italian architect Oreste Martelli Castaldi, and the artists were housed at the stunning Turchese villa.
The retreat was designed to spark creativity through relaxation, pause, and resetting, emphasizing the importance of slowing down. This approach was evident in the works produced during the retreat, such as Elliott's photography practice, which navigated intimacy, fiction, and form, beautifully capturing the nuance of being in the shared retreat space.
Yaav's physical language and interaction with architecture added an embodied, responsive layer to the villa, making it feel alive. Watching Yaav unfold his physical language within the structure was a testament to the retreat's success in fostering creative expression.
Jordan Anderson, who has been supporting the residency with brands such as Jean Paul Gaultier, Bulgari, and Loro Piana, was particularly interested in the unique contributions of each artist. He was intrigued by Precious' relationship with the natural world and Justen's exploration of Black sound and sonic environments.
Each evening, the artists shared a text or piece of inspiration over dinner, fostering a sense of community and collaboration. The retreat was intentionally placed outside the confines of an institutional residency, providing a nurturing and refreshing space away from segregated and often isolating art realities, particularly those present in Italy.
For the anniversary, the residency's program was changed to a week-long retreat at the Turchese villa. The villa was chosen because it was spectacular and could be fully inhabited, reshaped, and claimed as the artists' own. This provided a unique opportunity for the artists to immerse themselves in their work and the retreat experience.
The MQBMBQ residency is not just about artistic experimentation; it also engages with broader cultural dialogues around Black Queer identity, community safety, and connection. For example, works developed there, such as Lilah Benetti’s BLACK PEOPLE CAN’T DANCE, explore themes of inclusion, safety, and cultural responsibility towards Black Queer people by linking ancestral Indigenous movements with contemporary Black queer cultures.
In summary, the MQBMBQ residency is a unique and essential space for Black queer artists in Tuscany. Its dual emphasis on artistic collaboration, cultural safety, and rest creates a vital and sorely needed space for these artists to thrive and grow, both creatively and personally. The retreat's focus on rest and relaxation sets it apart from other residency programs, providing a much-needed respite from the often isolating art world.
Engaging with the villa's natural surroundings, Yaav incorporated outdoor-living into his physical language, bringing a harmonious connection between the home-and-garden and his performances.
Furthermore, Justen's works delved into sustainable-living concepts, harnessing the power of the countryside to create art that captured the essence of Tuscany's environment, adding a thoughtful layer to the retreat's focus on rest and relaxation.
