Queer Bookclub

Queer Bookclub is a monthly gathering organized by the OoQA. The events took place at the Van Abbemuseum and were open to the public. Each session was led by individual members or guests invited by OoQA, with support from other office members and the Van Abbemuseum. The program has featured a wide range of queer topics, from theoretical discussions (such as Olle's reading session of Queer Phenomenology by Sara Ahmed) to more tangible issues like gendered bathrooms (led by Noam) and gender reveal parties (led by Tadgh).

Workshop: Egalian Fairytale Party — during Queer Book Club, on 20 Oct. 2018 Facilitated by Noam Youngrak Son and Alice Watel Photo credit: Niek Tijsse Klasen

For Noam, who was a design student back then, the book club was an important reminder of the existence of people and communities beyond the borders of the art school and museum where their creative work was based. While the notion of the “public” in such contexts is often limited to those with immediate access to cultural capital, the book club was one of the few channels available to them at the time, where they could meet people outside the art school and discuss queer topics that their institution did not address. The book club informed them about the possibility of a creative environment where the process is prioritized over the excessive pursuit of production, making more things, or building another exhibition. This approach has influenced their work and methods ever since.

Queer Bookclub December 2019 on the "Gendered cable manifesto" where Noam shared a draft of their text "Gendered Cable Manifesto," along with some imagery created during the process. The discussion revolved around the various influences of the gender binary on both human and electric cables, leading to a collective speculation on a form of human reproduction inspired by electric cables. As a visual and physical manifestation of this discussion, they designed sets of genitalia using electric cables and connectors, creating queer human figures. Ultimately, these figures were connected into a larger representation of a group sexual interaction.

The Queer Book Club has also functioned as a site of connection and recruitment, where the OoQA members meet people outside the group. This has significantly expanded their relationships with the community in Eindhoven and beyond.

Queer Bookclub has been running since 2018, but has not continued since the pandemic, despite a few attempts to host it online. However, who knows? It might resume one day.