ManiFiesta! is a polyphonic monologue of (an) avatar(s), who return(s) to the days of a future past to declare the end of Skirtmination. This short performance piece not only serves as a means of remembrance but also as a significant manifestation of the ongoing presence of queer artists throughout history and the profound influence of their queer ancestors and legacies. Similar to General Idea, their artistic contributions transcend time

The performance ManiFiesta! is a powerful continuation of Simon(e) Jaikiriuma Paetau’s sister Aérea Negrot’s heritage following her recent passing. It serves as a testament and ritual to the enduring impact of her voice, which lives on through their collaborative creation. Each queer generation must actively seek out the often overlooked existence, resistance and artistic endeavours of their ancestors to draw strength from their ideas, struggles, legacies and experiences. This is particularly significant in highlighting the invaluable contributions of trans women of colour spanning from Xica Manicongo to Sylvia Rivera and Aérea Negrot.

Simon(e) Jaikiriuma Paetau is a queer/non-binary German-Colombian interdisciplinary artist whose work spans across video art, installations, cinema and performance, with a focus on queer decoloniality. In recent years, their primary focus has been on crafting narratives that reimagine myths and envision fictional utopias. These narratives draw inspiration from urban and rural Colombian queer racialised cultures, which have often been marginalised within dominant discourses and invisibilised throughout history. Simon(e) Jaikiriuma Paetau’s work delves into themes of sexual dissidence, as well as the experiences of queer Indigenous and diasporic LatinX communities. Simon(e) Jaikiriuma Paetau’s works have premiered at Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, BFI London Film Festival, New York Film Festival, documenta 14, New Directors/New Films MoMA, and won, among others, the Best Director Award at the Cartagena International Film Festival 2018 and the Emerging Talent Award at Kurzfilmtage Oberhausen 2022.

Aérea Negrot (1980–2023) was a Venezuelan artist based in Berlin. Negrot had shuttled between the poles of club music, opera singing, theatre and performance art for years.

Credits:
Direction, concept and text: Simon(e) Jaikiriuma Paetau & Aérea Negrot
Original Performance: Simon(e) Jaikiriuma Paetau & Aérea Negrot
Performance: Simon(e) Jaikiriuma Paetau
Music: El león del Sol by Royal Dust feat. Aérea Negrot
Dramaturgy: Friederike Hirz
Choreography: Alexander Carrillo
Costume: Sadak