Good Day
digital printing on patchworked satin, digitally printed zine,
sound (Minute of Silence, Minute of Scream)
Mgr. Michaela Pavelková
supplementary studies
Silence can be healing. However, if the oppressor silences marginalised voices, silence becomes an instrument of oppression. Then in contrast with silence, the possibility to express ourselves, to let our voice and emotions flow is healing.
Patriarchal society expects persons socialized as women to be silent, obliging, smiling, and not opposed to restrictive policies on their reproductive rights. These restrictions also apply to gender non-conforming people with a uterus. Their voice is not heard. However, queer and feminist organizations are shouting: We will not be silent!
Women and queer people are not silent when their rights are violated. It always gives me chills when I hear derogatory and defamatory statements about us in public. They appear even after last year’s terrorist attack. It is hurtful, disrespectful, and it reflects the inequalities and destructive influence of patriarchy on society as a whole.
I felt the last wound very deeply. A mix of emotions overwhelmed me; everything from sadness, despair, misery, and frustration to fear and anger. I felt a strong need to express them. The protests were a breaking point, stemming from incredible pain. As a community we connected. Solidarity and community bonding took on a new meaning and became crucial. At one of last year’s gatherings organized by queer, anti-fascist, and feminist collectives, people who knew Juraj and Matúš had a space to express themselves. Their speeches gave an authentic flow to their emotions. I empathized with them. I cried. I was afraid. I was angry. I felt a connection with the people around me. I screamed.
Alerta alerta queer-feminista!
I screamed at the top of my lungs for the first time at a protest. It seemed to me that I had rediscovered my voice which as a person socialized as the female binary, had been hiding somewhere inside me. It was liberating. Sorowfully liberating.
A year after the terrorist attack, I was again part of the crowd shouting at the protest. Matúš and Juraj! We don’t forget, we don’t forgive! Trans rights are human rights! What do we want? Queer liberation! When do we want it? Now! Death to the patriarchy, liberate queernes! During marching I also documented the protest in photos and sound. The result is my activist statement calling for support of the “Bunt”, a community center against all forms of oppression. A new safe space is being founded by queer and feminist initiatives, thanks to which we can shout and not be silenced when our rights are violated.
