Attendee invitation to a car-based wedding ceremony
Artist Elle Barbara Performs "AUTOGYNEGAMY" at Festival TransAmériques
Montreal-based artist Elle Barbara is set to present her provocative performance, "AUTOGYNEGAMY: in the name of the father, the son, and the sound mind," at the Festival TransAmériques (FTA) from May 24 to 28. The performance will take place at the deconsecrated church of Tres-Saint-Redempteur, located on Adam Street in the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve neighborhood.
"I'm treating myself to a fairy tale," says Barbara as she prepares for the first performance of the "nuptial" ceremony, presented in French and English for four nights. Co-presented by Danse-Cité at the FTA, the dreamlike and ritualistic show features a vertical dance pole and an "automarriage."
Daniel Parent, who plays the role of the priest-narrator, carries much of the text. He encourages Barbara to love herself every day of her life, emphasizing that not everyone must follow the same path to achieve self-love.
Barbara, a trans artist who adorns a real diamond on her left ring finger, is taking steps towards having the "automarriage" officially recognized. The performance serves as a "juridico-artistic act" and an act of healing and personal reconciliation, allowing Barbara to converse with her late father, interpreted by Montreal writer H. Nigel Thomas.
The Montreal-born woman, whose parents are Afro-Caribbean, wanted her transition to be "rooted in a space of solidarity and community." Along with her friends, she founded the Taking What You Need group, which financially supports low-income trans women.
As an artist, Barbara rejoices in having a multifaceted practice. She interprets "Before and After," an ode to giving in to temptation, and an excerpt from her upcoming album, set to be released on June 27.
Barbara's radical avant-gardism and audacity, as well as her connection to the Montreal underground, contribute to the impact of "AUTOGYNEGAMY." The performance takes place in a church adorned with Guido Nincheri's stained glass windows, which were purchased by the Rialto and St-James theaters' owner group in 2023.
"Love finds its joy in what is true," says the priest at one point in the show. Barbara reminds us that everyone can be called upon to start anew in their lives and reinvent themselves, emphasizing the importance of loving each other through thick and thin.
There are two more English-language performances left of the show "AUTOGYNEGAMY: in the name of the father, the son, and the sound mind." For more information and tickets, visit the show's page.
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Elle Barbara's performance, "AUTOGYNEGAMY," at the Festival TransAmériques also includes elements of entertainment, as she interprets her upcoming album and an ode titled "Before and After." Additionally, social-media users can engage with Barbara's art further, as there are English-language performances left of the show available for ticket purchase online.
