DEXO
The project DEXO - Doing Everything Xtra Ordinary - is an artistic response of helping people within marginalised communities to come together and celebrate them. By showcasing community skills and talent, amplifying their voices, coming together to feel celebrated creates opportunities to learn something new about oneself.
The first issue of DEXO spotlights artist Naomi Rincón Gallardo’s whose exhibition for AM10 was presented at Chapter in collaboration with Artes Mundi.
Following the community response to Naomi Rincón Gallardo work in Chapter, Raven Spiteri facilitated and organised four workshops to bring unity to marginalised communities to amplify their voices through their skills and talents. Workshop’s organised were a DJ workshop led by RAVEN, a Body Confidence workshop led by Tayo and Supreme Milan, a Queer Performance workshop led by Ivy Kelly and finally a Queer Fungi Talk and Collage Zine Making Workshop led by Izzy McLeod.
All photographs have been credited on each page to the according artists. All images that have not been credited on the page are documented by Raven Spiteri.
Community is
@welshballroomcommunity
Welsh Ballroom Community: Photographed by Laurie Broughton, 2022
Community is Key @welshballroomcommunity
Welsh Ballroom Community: Photographed by Abe
Stone, 2024
Naomi Rincón Gallardo (b 1979) is a visual artist living and working between Mexico City and Oaxaca.
From a decolonial-cuir perspective, her research-driven critical-mythical world-makings address the creation of counter-worlds in neocolonial settings. In her work she integrates her interests in theatre games, popular music, Mesoamerican cosmologies, speculative fiction, vernacular festivities and crafts, decolonial feminisms and queer of colour critique. She completed a PhD in Practice doctoral programme at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna.
Recent solo exhibitions include “Tzitzimime Trilogy”, La Casa Encendida, Madrid (2023); “Una Trilogía de Cuevas (A Trilogy of Caves)”, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Oaxaca (2020); “May Your Thunder Break the Sky”, Kunstraum Innsbruck (2020); “Heavy Blood”, Museo Experimental El Eco, Mexico City (2019).
Group exhibitions and performative screenings include: “Cosmovisions on Land and Entangled Futures”, Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead (2023–24); “Masquerades: Drawn to Metamorphosis”, MOMENTA Biennale de l’image, Montreal (2023); 59th Venice Biennale (2022); 34th Bienal de São Paulo (2021); 11th Berlin Biennale (2020).
Naomi Rincón Gallardo, Installation view at Chapter, Artes Mundi 10, 2023-24. Photography: Stuart Whipps
Naomi Rincón Gallardo, Installation view at Chapter, Artes Mundi 10, 2023-24.
Photography: Polly Thomas
Naomi Rincón Gallardo, Installation view at Chapter, Artes Mundi 10, 2023-24.
Photography: Stuart Whipps
“My name is Kwabena Devonish pronouns she/her. I am part of Welsh Ballroom Community. The work I have seen today in Chapter gallery space by Naomi is very interesting. It has a strong camp theme throughout. The use of costume lightens the mood, even though it talks about dark topics. In the second film, one of the character highlights the female figure made out of flesh referring to how their body is treated within society. A lot of the characters are trained as monsters in society and can be interpreted how people marginalise people in society. Seen as vagrants or pests. I think how Naomi portrayed it is very interesting. All the characters in the film embraced their identities as monsters took on the things that people said about them or feel about them. A lot included embracing their perceived dark side or embracing the more negative aspects. It was really interesting of way with dealing with different topics through a camp lens; with costume, how the scenes were shot. Things I have in common with Naomi’s work is states and imperial states deal with death. In terms of war, in the second film you had the vultures which would prey on the dead bodies. The first film was purifying them for me I see it as justifying the deaths and we see that a lot in society. I have that
in common how people’s deaths are manipulated or not seen as individual or seen as bodies or mass graves. It is very common in society at the moment. It is important to have Naomi’s work in Wales to have discussions of the work. A lot of Naomi’s work has a lot of reference to Mexican myths and legends and in Wales we have a lot of that as well. And often we use myths and legends, folk law to interpret history or how we deal with certain things. In a time we live now, it is important how we process things like war/conflict and genocide. Often folk law can be a way of lots of indigenous people can contextualise Folk law and learn from it. Seeing things not in a different lens but in a different way. Using different mythologies.”
Naomi Rincón Gallardo, Installation view at Chapter, Artes Mundi 10, 2023-24. Photography: Stuart Whipps
“My name is Ivy Kelly my pronouns are she/her. I am from Cardiff, Wales and I am a trans woman. I am a co-director in my own working practice of a C.I.C called Lone Worlds.
Naomi Rincón Gallardo, Installation view at Chapter, Artes Mundi 10, 2023-24.
Photography: Stuart Whipps
We essentially put on creative activity for queer community in South Wales. I really resonated with Naomi’s work in a child like way. It strikes me, one of the words I used in the gallery was ‘raw’. It felt really playful. I really appreciated the sense of other canon she constructed. You have the characters of the films but looking at them on paper in these paintings. That felt like the original source material that she was pulling from and introducing the characters in the films. It felt really like an expanded universe. I definitely feel like there was an unabashed like ravenous. It doesn’t take itself seriously Naomi’s work and that is something I relate to. You get the best of your performance when you are not very self conscious and just having your play time. That is something I can really see in the work. That’s the thing queer is not just sexuality or gender it is a way of life it is a way of being. Transcends race, sexuality, gender and all of this stuff it’s an experience and about living authentically and being yourself, against this homogenised society and culture that we live in which is really oppressive. Oppression was something that I picked up on in Naomi’s work and a theme breaking through the oppression which is really powerful. That is why we need superheroes isn’t it? Following in the notion of superheroes, characters, monsters, and create larger than live beings, entity, idols which have existed long. Which have existed in religion, avatars, the gods, the archival beings which we want to take on because it gives us a strength or power. That is something we definitely need to see more of in media, in representation and seeing ourselves how we can be. To be brave, strong and more than what we are. We should be more inclined to not just have the sense me there’s the line and the work. There should be a conversation and dialogue and for us to embrace muddying those waters and blurring those boundaries. If the work we are doing is about queerness, freedom and expression we could part a little of that to the audience and get them to be more tactile. Or getting involved, creating costumes or fashion their own materials and facilitate that process. I think that an audience or community way would benefit in something that is inclusive and they actually can participate. Opposed to “theres a piece of work, what do you think.” That to me feels more conducive to creatives and cultural development to have the lines between artist and audience blurred a lot more.”
Naomi Rincon Gallardo, The Formaldehyde Trip, 2017, Video still. Photography: Fabiola Torres Alzaga. Courtesy the artist and Parallel Oaxaca, Mexico
Naomi Rincon Gallardo, Heavy Blood, 2018, Video still. Photography: Angélica Canales. Courtesy the artist and Parallel Oaxaca, Mexico
Naomi Rincon Gallardo, Opossum Resilience, 2019, Video still. Photography: López Terroso. Courtesy the artist and Parallel Oaxaca, Mexico
Naomi Rincon Gallardo, Verses of Filth, 2020, Video still. Courtesy the artist and Parallel Oaxaca, Mexico
Tzitzimime Trilogy by Naomi Rincón Gallardo showcases a range of different themes of queer identities through costume, makeup, performance and sound. Naomi isn’t afraid to show current social issues through different symbolism in each video. Reminding us that expression is a place of existence. Alongside queer identities, an element of war is being shown calling for us all to speak up.
Through ballroom I have realised the right to be heard and to be seen. To take all social issues and express myself through my walk, making a change and evolving to a better safer environment. Ballroom is political, an act of renaissance for liberation and celebration.
Our new generation is the face of change. Humankind living inside bacteria of a diseased world rife with inequality and war; there is humanity underneath all the rubble. The animals symbolise youth juxtaposed with an alligator to cause mass destruction. Silence = death.
Raven Spiteri Multidisciplinary Artist and member of the Welsh Ballroom Community
Naomi Rincón Gallardo, Installation view at Chapter, Artes Mundi 10, 2023-24. Photography: Polly Thomas
RAVEN exudes a deep love for dance and house music, which is evident in their electrifying sets. Their music is not just about entertainment, but also about spiritual healing and personal transformation. It’s a journey of self-expression and freedom, where individuals come together to celebrate on the dance floor. Music has always been a big part of RAVEN’s life, but it truly blossomed when they ventured into different cities and cultures. In 2015, moving to Manchester opened up a whole new world of house music for her. For RAVEN, house music is more than just a genre - it’s a powerful force that brings spiritual healing and positive energy into people’s homes. She believes that music is a catalyst for change and connection, bringing people together on the dance floor to share in the joy of sound and movement.
DJ workshop, Raven Spiteri, 12.02.24 Photographs captured by Hannah Tottle. Page 28-53
RAVEN emphasises the importance of educating beginners interested in DJing about the history of dance and house music. It is crucial to recognise the evolution of house music from its roots in disco and to acknowledge the significance of dance as a political statement for people of colour and the LGBTQ+ community. RAVEN’s workshop promotes the celebration of expression, community, and authenticity. The discussion also delves into the impact of disco demolition and the transition of dance music, highlighting the contributions of pioneers such as Larry Levan and Frankie Knuckles in shaping the sound experience at iconic venues like Paradise Garage, The Loft, The Warehouse, and Studio 54.
DJ workshop, Raven Spiteri, 12.02.24 including images from the Channel 4 documentary, ‘I Was There When House Took Over The World’. Still photographs captured by Hannah Tottle from documentary.
House Music is Born Channel 4 Docummentary
The Art of Giving it a Go
Celebrating the courage to try new things in life is essential, as it allows us to discover new skills and interests. Before delving into a new skill, it is crucial to grasp the language and history behind it. With time and practice, one can continuously improve and learn more about the skill. In these photos, workshop members are seen learning about DJ mixers, CDJs, and the different elements of a track. They are mastering techniques like beat matching, transitioning between songs, and using hot cues. RAVEN commends the participants for their dedication and willingness to learn. The workshop has sparked a desire in some to delve deeper into collecting music and perfecting their beat matching skills, telling the story of music through their tracks.
“The DJ skills workshop with RAVEN was incredible. It was my first time DJ’ing and I felt really nervous, but RAVEN’s informative and gentle teaching style put me right at ease. By the end of the workshop, I was trying out the decks in front of a whole room of people! I really enjoyed learning about the history of DJ’ing and the practical and relaxed style of the workshop. I’ve also gone on to try DJ’ing at home since, with RAVEN’s recommended software!” - Kaan K (they/ them)
Body Confidence Workshop by Tayo & Supreme Milan
We are excited to announce a Body Confidence workshop led by Tayo & Supreme Milan. Inspired by Tayo’s ballroom journey walking ‘Female Figure Lucious Body.’ Walking this category encouraged Tayo Milan to feel truly connected to all the aspects that define herself as the unapologetic Nubian queen she is today. Additionally, this allowed Tayo to appreciate herself on a deeper level with a renewed perspective of self-worth, self respect and above all self- love. From this, Tayo is introduced these elements into her workshop where attendees could feel more connected with themselves through the exercises, such as: sharing individual body journeys, self/group reflection talks of bodily gratitude and embracing ourselves as the beautiful masterpieces we are today, in our best outfits and moving with flair.
Following, we welcome Auntie J’s (Supreme Milan) insight of channeling the characteristics authentically through their lived cultural experiences. This Aunty looks to explore queer liberation and the ballroom culture that saves lives. We looked into aspects of what authenticity is and how we take our cultural experiences and live them through fashion and performance. Within Aunty journey so far, the runway is what inspires, we all got that inner model right and Aunty whipped some ideas together and let us live that fantasy darling, whilst we create and discuss. That right representing matters and us QPOC’s deserve that seat at the table no matter what size, shape, form we all come in.
Tayo Milan
Lucious Body
Supreme Milan
In the workshop Tayo sets a task to talk about our body journey. Connecting within sharing with our peers in a safe space. Following this we are asked to pair up and look into each others eyes sending positive body affirmations.
During the Body Confidence workshop, we come together to capture some photographs of each other feeling comfortable in our own body, knowing that we are loved and cherished.
Within the workshop, Supreme Milan invited participants to have a look at Vogue Magazine to emulate the feeling of different poses. Discussing commercial, catalogue and couture runway.
Using different scarves provided in the workshop, participants were asked to utilise the fabric and use it in a creative way that makes each person feel confident. Ms Malori 007 used the scarf and created a halter top. She is serving floral realness.
A Femme Queen.
Supreme and Tayo Milan
Queer Performance Workshop by Ivy Kelly
As part of AM10 at Chapter Arts Centre, we held a workshop centred around building and queering space for performance. Led by Ivy Kelly (she/her), Kelly is co-director of Lone Worlds. A C.I.C based in Cardiff, with a mission to deliver creative opportunities to the LGBTQIA+ community on a local scale. You might know Lone Worlds from their recurring queer poetry nights, Come Be Queer, which have been presented at a range of venues including Shift, Jacob’s Antiques, and Porter’s. Within the workshop, there was a focus on generating written and actionable material for performance in collaborative settings, with a shared holistic approach to making. Participants were asked to bring along an object of sentimental value which they are happy to be shared around as part of the workshop process.
Participants were invited to engage with music and sound, documenting their emotional responses to the surrounding experience. We were attuned to a shared spiritual frequency, with Ivy selecting various tracks to evoke distinct feelings.
Ivy guided participants to navigate the different shapes marked on the floor, encouraging exploration of their emotions in various areas of the room. This environment fostered a deeper connection with oneself and one’s feelings. We also had the opportunity to experiment with masks and ropes, facilitating the sharing of our spiritual frequencies with one another.
Express the frequency on the masked beauty. Allow the beneath to heal and take its journey.
During the workshop, Ivy asked participants to explore the room and connect with the music and space. Discover what could be within. Through this there were holes inside that felt that a spiritual energy orbited through the space. Allowing participants to express themselves on a meaningful level.
Anomaly the meaning of something different, something abnormal, peculiar or not easily classified. This was a spiritual anomaly with a different experience to embrace through performance.
Queer Fungi Talk, Collage and Zine Making Workshop
Sourced Images
The Process of the Fungal Artistic Creation.
Here we have the incredible Arron who recreated the story of Batman through his own version via the queer fungal world.
During the workshop Izzy allowed full creative freedom in creating whatever they would like through sourced materials and fungi printing.
On the left, we see Connor creating a small zine about mushrooms using paint, sourced images and information about the fungi world inside. Above, we see Matt creating a collage of sourced images to create an artistic insight on the mushroomworld.fungal
Participants showcasing their art in the segment of collage image
making/ fungi printing/black out poetry within the Queer Fungi workshop.
Artes Mundi is the key flagship international visual arts organisation for Wales based in Cardiff, UK. Established in 2002, Artes Mundi is committed to working with artists whose work engages with social reality and lived experience. The Artes Mundi exhibition and prize takes place biennially, while alongside these is a sustained public programme, cocreative community partnerships, projects and commissions. Previous winners are Taloi Havini (2024), Apichatpong Weerasethakul (2019), John Akomfrah (2017), Theaster Gates (2015), Teresa Margolles (2013), Yael Bartana (2010), N S Harsha (2008), Eija-Liisa Ahtila (2006), and Xu Bing (2004). In an Artes Mundi first, the jury unanimously decided to award the Artes Mundi 9 Prize to all six shortlisted artists in 2021.
Chapter is an international centre for contemporary arts and culture, rooted in the heart of Cardiff, Wales. Established by artists Christine Kinsey and Bryan Jones and writer Mik Flood in 1971 to celebrate experimentation and radical thought. Chapter has been a catalyst for creativity and critical thinking ever since. Chapter’s dynamic multi-artform programme forms a constellation of radical and experimental ideas and practices. Across visual art, film, performance, and multidisciplinary projects, Chapter seeks to explore the most urgent questions of our time. Chapter value imagination and risk-taking, investing in artists and communities as world-builders. It’s approach is collaborative and committed to its community – artists, audiences, neighbours, staff and cultural workers – on their doorstep, in Wales and beyond. Alongside their curated public programme, Chapter are also home to more than 50 artists and creative companies who are based in their studios. From awardwinning animators and film production companies to artists, designers, photographers, and bespoke art framers, print and recording studios, Chapter’s creative community are at the heart of everything they do.
and publication organised/designed by
Workshops
Raven Spiteri