Pigeons by Jules Cunningham

The idea of this work began in lockdown when Jules’ thoughts about Julius Eastman and pigeons collided…

Pigeons is a 30 minute dance performed by Harry, Yu-Chien & Jules alongside the music of Julius Eastman, a black gay man from New York composing in the 1960s,70s and 80s. Much of Eastman’s work was lost, his work sidelined within the whiteness of minimalist music.

Through the movement we explore feelings of being alone and together, disruption and distraction. In relation to the music, we are moving almost relentlessly, perhaps irritated by our own need to keep going. We’ve thought about the ways that pigeons are repetitive, intent, and experienced, by humans, as a nuisance.

This mirrors how marginalised people disrupt our lives, showing us uncomfortable truths.

This event was one of Queer Arts Commissions, an incredible line up of neuroqueer and multidisciplinary artists, award-winning producers and writers explore the theme of identity through a variety of art forms, and touching on subjects such as gender, faith, queer arts, and mental wellbeing