Seine Kongruangkit X Urban Outfitters Berlin Pride 2020
Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic there will be no Pride parades this year. BUT, we’re still celebrating loud and proud, so we invited LGBTQ+ visual sound artist Seine Kongruangkit to transform the Kurfürstendamm store window in celebration of Pride. Seine talks us through her inspiring installation, her creative motivations and ultimate Pride playlist.
What does Pride mean to you?
It’s not just about receiving acceptance from other people, but accepting and being proud of who I am. Growing up as queer, I never really understood the meaning of Pride until I watched Glee. The episode when Santana Lopez (played by Naya Rivera) says “I am gay and if you don’t like it, that’s fine, but it doesn’t change the fact that I’m a natural-born leader.” This defines what Pride means to me.
Describe your art style in three words… time, space, aesthetic.
Tell us about your art installation… due to the current pandemic all Pride parades have been cancelled, so I wanted to remind people that there is still pride to celebrate every day. This sound installation lets you enter my imagined event that imitates and is inspired by the characteristics of love and the fun we have at parades. I chose sound as a medium to communicate, because I believe that “hearing is a way of touching at a distance,” and when you hear something it can virtually transport you into a different space. The soundscape of the surroundings will create a picture in your head, while the music heightens your emotions. The meaning derived from this work depends on the audiences’ individual experience and interpretation.
You've captured the atmosphere of a Pride parade using visuals and sound, how would you describe a parade to someone who hasn’t experienced one?
I grew up in a country where there are no pride parades so when I moved to Berlin, I was looking forward to joining the parade. The first thing I said to my girlfriend when I found out it was cancelled, was how sad I am to miss it this year. The sound that I made for this piece represents my abstract feelings and imitates the parade sound that I always had in my head. Mixed with low-fi music and poetry about love, it forces you to think of Pride as more than just a parade, Pride is something within.
What or who influenced the installation?
My main influence came from when I went to Hamburg and visited an exhibition by the famous queer artist, Peaches, called “Whose Jizz Is This?”. She always makes cool audio-visual installations and most of her work portrays who she is as a person. I really admire that she’s always proud to express herself to the world through her art.
Where are the best places to go for creative inspiration in Berlin? I really like the c/o gallery and Hamburger Bahnhof as they always have cool and inspiring exhibitions on. There’s also a lot of independent art galleries in Berlin such as the Urban Nation and Bethanien which also offers art in residency. However, I personally get the most inspiration from the shower.
It’s not just about receiving acceptance from other people, but accepting and being proud of who I am. Growing up as queer, I never really understood the meaning of Pride until I watched Glee. The episode when Santana Lopez (played by Naya Rivera) says “I am gay and if you don’t like it, that’s fine, but it doesn’t change the fact that I’m a natural-born leader.” This defines what Pride means to me.
Describe your art style in three words… time, space, aesthetic.
Tell us about your art installation… due to the current pandemic all Pride parades have been cancelled, so I wanted to remind people that there is still pride to celebrate every day. This sound installation lets you enter my imagined event that imitates and is inspired by the characteristics of love and the fun we have at parades. I chose sound as a medium to communicate, because I believe that “hearing is a way of touching at a distance,” and when you hear something it can virtually transport you into a different space. The soundscape of the surroundings will create a picture in your head, while the music heightens your emotions. The meaning derived from this work depends on the audiences’ individual experience and interpretation.
You've captured the atmosphere of a Pride parade using visuals and sound, how would you describe a parade to someone who hasn’t experienced one?
I grew up in a country where there are no pride parades so when I moved to Berlin, I was looking forward to joining the parade. The first thing I said to my girlfriend when I found out it was cancelled, was how sad I am to miss it this year. The sound that I made for this piece represents my abstract feelings and imitates the parade sound that I always had in my head. Mixed with low-fi music and poetry about love, it forces you to think of Pride as more than just a parade, Pride is something within.
What or who influenced the installation?
My main influence came from when I went to Hamburg and visited an exhibition by the famous queer artist, Peaches, called “Whose Jizz Is This?”. She always makes cool audio-visual installations and most of her work portrays who she is as a person. I really admire that she’s always proud to express herself to the world through her art.
Where are the best places to go for creative inspiration in Berlin? I really like the c/o gallery and Hamburger Bahnhof as they always have cool and inspiring exhibitions on. There’s also a lot of independent art galleries in Berlin such as the Urban Nation and Bethanien which also offers art in residency. However, I personally get the most inspiration from the shower.
In what ways has 2020 shaped, fuelled or informed your artwork and creative vision?
I would say my perspective on life has definitely changed. The fact that it was possible for us to do everything virtually during the lockdown was amazing. We can get things done without being together, we can travel virtually, join concerts or events through a video call. Of course, it doesn’t feel as real but it works. That has definitely inspired me to do work that can transport people to places without actually going there; imitation gives you a similar feeling and that’s better than having nothing at all. Another thing I have learned from 2020 is that it’s ok to give yourself a rest once in a while, inspiration sometimes comes from when you think about nothing at all.
My ultimate soundtrack to Pride would include…
Pussy is God - King Princess
Girls - girl in red
No Promises - Sam Smith
iT - Christine and the Queens
True Colors - Cyndi Lauper
LGBTQ+ artists, we should follow…
Glori J. Tutt @glorifice_
Julianna Huxtable @julianahuxtable
Mickalene Thomas @mickalenethomas
Gabriella Grimes @gggrimes
Khai Aka @blackbirdKhai
Ludi Leiva @ludileiva
Shanée Benjamin @shaneebenjamin
Abby @butterfly.ethio
Jes Fan https://www.jesfan.com/
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Stay true to who you are.
How do you feel about your UO Pride window?
I’m really happy about it! Thanks to Ben, who helped me install the whole window, it turned out really pretty and even prettier at night - definitely better than I imagined.
I would say my perspective on life has definitely changed. The fact that it was possible for us to do everything virtually during the lockdown was amazing. We can get things done without being together, we can travel virtually, join concerts or events through a video call. Of course, it doesn’t feel as real but it works. That has definitely inspired me to do work that can transport people to places without actually going there; imitation gives you a similar feeling and that’s better than having nothing at all. Another thing I have learned from 2020 is that it’s ok to give yourself a rest once in a while, inspiration sometimes comes from when you think about nothing at all.
My ultimate soundtrack to Pride would include…
Pussy is God - King Princess
Girls - girl in red
No Promises - Sam Smith
iT - Christine and the Queens
True Colors - Cyndi Lauper
LGBTQ+ artists, we should follow…
Glori J. Tutt @glorifice_
Julianna Huxtable @julianahuxtable
Mickalene Thomas @mickalenethomas
Gabriella Grimes @gggrimes
Khai Aka @blackbirdKhai
Ludi Leiva @ludileiva
Shanée Benjamin @shaneebenjamin
Abby @butterfly.ethio
Jes Fan https://www.jesfan.com/
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Stay true to who you are.
How do you feel about your UO Pride window?
I’m really happy about it! Thanks to Ben, who helped me install the whole window, it turned out really pretty and even prettier at night - definitely better than I imagined.