Black Carnation: Case Study No. 2
Duration
Year
Topics
Language
Subtitles
Latvian
7 min
2024
queer,
N-18
Lithuanian,
English
“Black Carnation: Case Study No. 2” continues the artist's research into queer histories of his home country, Latvia, this time exploring oral histories of the first gay parties in the early 1990s. Produced in 2024, 35 years since the Baltic Way — a milestone demonstration on a road to independence from the Soviet Union — this work connects these emancipative experiences to a broader liberation and freedom in the Baltic context, often unmentioned and yet vital.
The text of the work is based on the artist’s conversations with Rihards Bargais, Pērs Bogomazovs, Ģirts Krūmiņš, Kārlis Streips and references form “Forced Underground” by Rita Ruduša (Mansards, 2012) and “Žagars Brothers” by Tatjana Žagare-Vītiņa (Dienas Grāmata, 2023).
Author Konstantin Zhukov
Voices Andrejs Gudilins (Jauda music collective), Ance Pudāne (Klik Klak parties), Ieva Mits (Skapis club), Rolands Jaunbrālis (TOP Club)
Production and research assistant Dāvis Suharevskis
Music Toms Lazdovskis
Interlude music “Keppler 2000” by Xavier Andrew
Translations Emīls Zavelis and Dominykas Norkūnas
Subtitles Konstantin Zhukov
Animation Emilija Juzeliūnaitė
Konstantin Zhukov
An artist living and working between Riga (Latvia) and London (UK). His creative practice is informed by his research into recorded and oral histories exploring different forms of attachment and sexualities – from homoerotic poetry of Islamic golden age to the love letters of Oscar Wilde. Most recently, Konstantin have turned to the scarcely explored and poorly-documented queer histories of his home country, Latvia, which form the basis of the ongoing project Black Carnation.
Website: https://www.konstantinzhukov.com/
