Dalston Superstore is well-famed all over London as one of the best party venues in the East End, delivering an eclectic mix of supersonic pumping nights each weekend. But this weekend, the party on Friday night has a different edge behind it, raising money for The Queer Archive to put on a show of Greek transgender artist Paola Revenioti’s work at the White Cube Gallery. Patrick Cash spoke to creator of The Queer Archive and curator of the night, Konstantinos Menelaou to find out more…
Tell us a little about yourself and what you do.
I am a filmmaker, producer and curator. I’ve been living in London for about twelve years now. I work for Fringe! Film and Arts Fest as a producer and curator, I am also the founder and editor-in-chief of The Queer Archive, and one of the main forces behind creative agency Sinister&Co.
How did you go about setting up The Queer Archive?
The Queer Archive is a blog and a creative agency. Through our website we showcase queer films and videos, and through our fundraising events we help artists and filmmakers to create and exhibit their work. We want to work with creative people and help them materialise their ideas. The website functions as an inspirational and educational gallery. We aim to inspire and generate meaningful discussions on queer issues, cinema and art.
Who is Paola Revenioti and why have you chosen her as your artist to support on Friday?
Paola is an very important figure not just in the gay scene in Greece, but also internationally. She is an artist in a traditional sense, in this case meaning that the work she creates comes from her own experiences fuelled by her instincts. She has been a fighter for gay rights since the beginning of the ‘80s, when she published her groundbreaking queer fanzine Kraximo featuring interviews by intellectuals, artists and poets, accounts of hustlers and her incredible photography. She organised the first gay pride in Athens funded by her own prostitution. She recently started The Paola Project which is a series of documentaries on important social issues such as male prostitution and immigration.
Do you or Paola have anything to say about the current Golden Dawn crisis that is sweeping Athens and Greece?
I know that Paola has a lot to say about it. Especially since she lives next door to the offices of Golden Dawn. In fact she expresses her opinions about it on a daily basis on her Facebook page. It’s terrifying to see that Golden Dawn’s political agenda and social beliefs have begun representing more and more of the Greek community. In a way, it has revealed the disintegrating Greek civilisation which has been badly wounded by the economic crisis and years of indulgence into nothingness. However, last week, a Golden Dawn supporter killed a Greek citizen, a hip hop artist known for his anti-fascist beliefs, and that caused outrage which pushed the government to finally act against them. I am not sure how this will unfold but for the first time in a long time I witness again the Greek spirit shining and the Greeks fighting for justice, which has given me a bit of hope…
Why do you think freedom of speech and supporting artistic expression is so important still in modern culture?
It seems like history is repeating itself. People are not educated enough especially about history and they make the same mistakes. The best way to educate and inspire people is through art. Art has the power to change and it has to be practiced with true honesty. When truth is hidden or altered then it creates confusion, which brings catastrophic results.
‘She organised the first gay pride in Athens funded by her own prostitution.’
Why have you chosen the Dalston Superstore as the venue for this cause?
I want to believe that all gay scenes have a political agenda as it’s in the nature of every gay man and woman to be political and fight for something in their lives. The East End scene has the most vibrant community character out of them all, and it’s not just a place to hang out but also to live and work. Therefore the sense of community is more evident there than in Soho or Vauxhall. Lots of artists live and work there and subsequently their work and ideas circulate more easily, which prompts more dialogue and meaningful discussion to take place. Dalston Superstore is the best club in the area, not only because it hosts the best parties with the best DJs, but also because they have an ongoing program of art exhibitions and they support local organisations and artists in order to communicate with an audience.
And finally, how do you think we can rejuvenate interest in the younger gay generations in what is happening in the world and to their community?
By exposing them to positive issues using aesthetic techniques that will please their needs. Most young people are obsessed with style and not so much substance. By joining these together we can effectively point them in the right direction.
• The Queer Archive is this Friday 27th September at Dalston Superstore, 117 Kingsland Road, Dalston, E8 2PB. 9pm-4am, £3 before 11pm, £5 after.
