#zomfam

Thanks to everyone who came out for the performance of ZOM-FAM at @vuesurlareleve last week. It was such a meaningful moment, to finally be in communion with an audience, but more than anything, to fall in love, all over again, with this work. My heart is full

Merci à tous·tes d'être venu·es à la performance de ZOM-FAM à @vuesurlareleve la semaine dernière. C'était un moment profond, de pouvoir enfin être en communion avec un public, mais plus que tout, de tomber en amour à nouveau, avec cet ouvrage. J'en ai le cœur tout plein

Photo credit: @draven888

#VueSurLaReleve #VSRL #festival #performance #performer #spokenword #poet #show #dance #interdisciplinary #poetry #zomfam #kamalamackerel #lamackerel #mauritius #montreal #trans #queer #lgbtq #lgbt #femme #art #artistic #mtlart #queermtl #mtlmoments (at Maison de la culture Claude-Léveillée)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CdrkWfGImVs/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[english version below]

Je présente aussi un laboratoire du nouvel ouvrage que je développe, 'é, un récit poétique [EN FRANÇAIS, OUI!] mis en scène à travers la danse, le rituel, le mouvement au Festival @offtamtl les 31 mai et 1 juin. C'est un tout nouveau territoire artistique que j'explore, et j'aimerais bien avoir vos commentaires sur l'évolution de ce travail! Lien dans la bio!

I am also presenting a new work-in-progress of my new work in development, 'é, a poetic score [IN FRENCH, YES!] that is portrayed through dance, rituals and movement at the Festival @offtamtl on may 31 and june 1. This is a new artistic terrain for me, and I would love to get your feedback on this work in progress! Link in bio!

[Photo credit: @vanessafortinphotographe]

#OFFTA #festival #performance #performer #spokenword #dance #interdisciplinary #poetry #poésie #zomfam #ocean #kamalamackerel #lamackerel #mauritius #montreal #trans #queer #lgbtq #lgbt #femme #art #artistic #mtlart #mtlmoments (at MAI (Montréal, arts interculturels))
https://www.instagram.com/p/Ccxd498LGBg/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[english version below]

J'ai le plaisir de vous annoncer que je présenterai mon solo interdisciplinaire, -, au Festival Vue sur la Relève le à -éé. Si vous voulez des billets, il y a un lien dans la bio!

I am delighted to announce that I will be presenting my interdisciplinary solo, -, at Festival Vue sur la Relève on -éé. If you want tickets, there is a link in bio!

#VueSurLaReleve #VSRL #festival #performance #performer #spokenword #dance #interdisciplinary #poetry #zomfam #kamalamackerel #lamackerel #mauritius #montreal #trans #queer #lgbtq #lgbt #femme #art #artistic #mtlart #mtlmoments (at Maison de la culture Claude-Léveillée)
https://www.instagram.com/p/Ccxbu5hLnJJ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Deeply humbled to have won the Author of the Year Award at Gala Dynastie, a prize presented by Black History Month. Such community recognition goes straight to my heart & I could not be more grateful

C'est en toute humilité que j'ai reçu le prix Auteur·ice de l'année au @galadynastie, un prix présenté par @moishistoiredesnoirs. Cette reconnaissance de la communauté me va droit au cœur & je suis rempli·e de gratitude

Photo credit: @puredomo

#gratitude #BlackExcellence #GalaDynastie #award #awardwinning #blacklivesmatter #author #auteur #autrice #art #artist #performer #performance #poet #poetry #lgbt #lgbtq #queer #trans #transgender #mauritius #montreal #queermtl #montrealartist #lamackerel #kamalamackerel #transmauritius #zomfam (at Montreal, Quebec)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CbU_QHyrwBr/?utm_medium=tumblr

: présentée au é - é le 6-7 novembre 2021, dans le cadre de -: .

[english version below]

Le Morne est une montagne du sud-ouest de l’île Maurice qui servait de refuge aux esclaves en fuite (ou marrons) au XIXe siècle. Après l’abolition de l’esclavage, en 1835, une délégation de soldats britanniques a été dépêchée pour informer les fugitifs qu’iels étaient désormais juridiquement libres. Mais celleux-ci, croyant qu’on allait les arrêter et les enchaîner de nouveau, ont grimpé jusqu’au sommet de la montagne et plongé vers la mort. Dans cette performance qui se compose de rituels, de chants scandés, de poésie et de mouvement Kama La Mackerel ranime la figure de l’esclave et celle de la montagne – maintenant reconnue comme un lieu de résistance – honorant les mort·es et leur donnant une voix.

Le Morne is a mountain on the southwestern tip of the island of Mauritius that was a refuge for runaway slaves, called Maroons, in the 19th century. Upon the abolition of slavery in 1835, a delegation of British soldiers was dispatched to inform the Maroons of their emancipation. Believing that the army was actually there to recapture them, many of the former slaves climbed to the summit of the mountain and leapt to their deaths. In this performance composed on ritual, chants, poetry and movement, Kama La Mackerel revives the figure of the slave and the mountain – now a symbol of resistance – honouring and giving a voice to the dead.

Photo credit: Mike Patten

#mbam #mmfa #afflux #biennale #transnational #noire #blackart #blackartist #slave #slaveresistance #resistance #performance #performer #ritual #poetry #poet #installation #zomfam #qtbipoc #gay #trans #transgender #femme #queermtl #mauritius #lemorne #montreal #transmauritius #lamackerel #kamalamackerel (at Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal)
https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca9_BtqLeQX/?utm_medium=tumblr

Hello

My name is Kama [they/them] & I am a multilingual writer, visual artist, performer, translator, educator & I believe in love, compassion & justice.

I am wholeheartedly invested in ocean narratives, island sovereignty, transgender poetics and ancestral healing. My body of work is hybrid, challenging colonial notions of space and time as these relate to history, power, language, subject formation and the body.

In 2020, I published a book called ZOM-FAM (@metonymypress), a collection of sweet lyric poems that I wrote from the heart for the child who lives in me & for my home island, Mauritius. Should you want to know more about it, there is a link in bio!

Coucou

Je m'appelle Kama [iel] & je suis un·e auteur·ice multilingue, artiste visuelle, performeur·e, traducteur·ice, éducateur·ice & je crois en l'amour, la compassion & la justice.

Je suis investi·e dans récits océaniques, la souveraineté des îles, la poétique transgenre et la guérison ancestrale. Mon travail est hybride & challenge la conception coloniale de l'espace-temps en lien avec l'histoire, le pouvoir, le langage, le corps, et la formation du sujet.

En 2020, j'ai publié un livre qui s'appelle ZOM-FAM (@metonymypress), un recueil de poésie lyrique pas mal sweet qui représente bien mon cœur, & que j'ai écrit pour l'enfant qui vit en moi, & pour mon île natale, Maurice. Si tu veux en apprendre plus, y'a un lien dans la bio!

#bio #biography #intro #art #artist #performer #performance #poet #poetry #visualart #visualartist #lgbt #lgbtq #queer #trans #transgender #femme #mauritius #montreal #queermtl #montrealartist #poetics #healing #island #body #lamackerel #kamalamackerel #transmauritius #zomfam (at Montreal, Quebec)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ13Xp6LL1T/?utm_medium=tumblr

I totally went off the grid since my performance at the Musée des Beaux-arts, but getting out of my gentle cave to share a few things:

First, thanks to everyone who came to witness my ceremony/ritual/performance at the @mbamtl a couple of weeks ago. This was a truly transformative experience for me, as an artist, as a spiritual being.

One thing I know for sure: I wasn’t alone performing there. There were so many unnamed kin right there with me. It’s by far one of the most meaningful performances I have ever (been) offered. Gratitude to everyone who made this space, this work possible.

After a wonderful, wonderful past 15 months, all of which I am grateful for, I will be retreating from public-facing projects until summer 2022. I need some time & space to slow down, to rest, to reflect, to deepen my spiritual practice & to have naps, many naps, every single day!!

‍♀️ I will still be doing the odd gig here & there ‘coz I still have bills to pay! So there’ll still be chances to catch me at some events ;-)

In the spirit of slowing down, I have spent the past couple of weeks looking after Zorro. We’ve been getting lots of fresh air on our daily walks & life has been mostly cuddles, naps & belly rubs. So here’s a bunch of pictures of me being a dog parent!

‍ If I haven’t responded to your DMs, I am sorry. I’ll catch up on my communications soon!

Sending love & light to everyone!

#portrait #poetry #poet #artist #artistic #artistsoninstagram #artists #artistsofinstagram #artistlife #performer #performance #qtbipoc #bipoc #gay #queer #trans #transgender #femme #oneofthem #pride #montreal #montrealart #mtl #queerart #montrealartist #mauritius #zomfam #lamackerel #kamalamackerel (at Montreal, Quebec)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CWeRELYrllQ/?utm_medium=tumblr

[english version below]

Doux rappel que je présente ma nouvelle performance : au é - é ce samedi & dimanche, 6 + 7 novembre dans le cadre de -: . C'est gratuit, avec des sièges limités (premier arrivé, premier servi).

Les portes ouvrent à 13h
Performance à 13h30
Galerie des bronzes
1379 Sherbrooke O

« : se compose de rituels, de chants scandés, de poésie et de mouvement. Le Morne, une montagne de l’île Maurice, servait de refuge aux esclaves en fuite, au XIXe siècle. Après que l’esclavage eut été aboli, en 1835, des soldats britanniques furent dépêchés pour annoncer aux esclaves marrons qu’ils étaient libres désormais, mais ceux-ci, croyant qu’on allait les arrêter et les enchaîner de nouveau, grimpèrent jusqu’au sommet et plongèrent vers la mort. La Mackerel ravive la figure de l’esclave et de la montagne, maintenant reconnue comme un lieu de résistance, dans cette performance poignante qui honore les morts et leur donne une voix. »

Photo: Vanessa Fortin

#mbam #mmfa #afflux #biennale #transnational #noire #blackart #blackartist #slave #slaveresistance #resistance #performance #performer #ritual #poetry #poet #installation #zomfam #qtbipoc #gay #trans #transgender #femme #mauritius #lemorne #montreal #transmauritius #lamackerel #kamalamackerel (at Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CV5YeIzDYzC/?utm_medium=tumblr

This is such a surreal thing for me to announce, but here it is: I am presenting a new performance : at the Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal as part of Af-Flux Biennale Transnationale Noire on Nov 6 & 7, at 13h30. It is free, but seats are limited. LINK IN BIO.

Photo credit: Vanessa Fortin

#mbam #mmfa #afflux #biennale #transnational #noire #blackart #blackartist #performance #performer #ritual #poetry #poet #installation #zomfam #qtbipoc #gay #trans #transgender #femme #mauritius #lemorne #montreal #transmauritius #lamackerel #kamalamackerel (at Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CVgZ0fdrPmS/?utm_medium=tumblr

Last gentle reminder // Dernier petit rappel!

If you want to catch the / at @lagaleriedeluqam, the exhibit closes this Sunday, so you have 3 more days to do so!

If you want to watch my performance ritual // ’é // you also have 3 more days to do so! (link in bio)

Exhibit and performance presented as part of @momentabiennale

Photo credit: Jean-Michael Seminaro

#momenta #momenta2021 #performance #performer #poem #poetry #poet #installation #multimedia #ritual #exhibition #art #artist #artistic #artistsoninstagram #artistlife #literature #zomfam #qtbipoc #bipoc #gay #queer #trans #transgender #oneofthem #montreal #mauritius #transmauritius #lamackerel #kamalamackerel (at Galerie de l'UQAM)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CVVXhniL6AZ/?utm_medium=tumblr

Gentle reminder that if you missed my performance ritual // ’é // presented as part of my body of work / at MOMENTA, Biennale de l'image, you have 10 more days to catch it online!

There is a link in my bio to view the performance!

« , - : , . , . »

Photo credit: Jean-Michael Seminaro

#momenta #momenta2021 #performance #performer #poem #poetry #poet #installation #multimedia #ritual #exhibition #art #artist #artistic #artistsoninstagram #artistlife #literature #zomfam #qtbipoc #bipoc #gay #queer #trans #transgender #oneofthem #montreal #mauritius #transmauritius #lamackerel #kamalamackerel (at Parc Verdun)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CVDUnlfAa-r/?utm_medium=tumblr

Gentle reminder that you have about 10 more days to catch / at @lagaleriedeluqam as part of @momentabiennale.

I call this my pandemic exhibit, a body of work that had to be reimagined over & over again, but I am very proud of this work!

Featuring textiles, photography, poetry, a performance and A VIDEO INSTALLATION PROJECTED ON A BED OF SALT (!), this body of interdisciplinary work seeks to disrupt the colonial framing of island spaces by inscribing the Black/Brown queer/trans body as a spiritual & ancestral force that speaks to/from local Mauritian territories, ecologies & bodies of water.

@lagaleriedeluqam is open Wednesday-Sunday, noon-6pm

Photo credit: Jean-Michael Seminaro

#momenta2021 #momentabiennale #sensingnature #photography #video #contemporaryart #textile #installation #exhibit #exhibition #art #montreal #mtlart #mtl #mtlmoments #mauritius #island #ocean #transmauritius #zomfam #lgbt #queer #trans #femme #transgender #lamackerel #kamalamackerel (at Galerie de l'UQAM)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CU-aBfErl8L/?utm_medium=tumblr

[english below]

si vous avez raté ma performance-rituel // ’é // présenté dans le contexte de mon expo / dans le cadre de @momentabiennale à @lagaleriedeluqam, la performance est maintenant disponible en ligne et peut être visionnée jusqu'au 24 octobre. je vous ai mis un lien dans la bio!

\ * // * \

if you missed my ritual performance // ’é // presented in the context of my exhibit / in the context of @momentabiennale at @lagaleriedeluqam, the performance is now available online to be streamed until oct 24. there’s a link in my bio!

« , - : , . , . »

gratitude to Emil Briones & @babemaharjan for being part of this femme ritual. gratitude to @jessica_sofia_lopez for being a superstar & supporting me in bringing this vision to fruition. gratitude to Jean-Michael Seminaro Sandrick Mathurin for documenting the performance.

#momenta #momenta2021 #performance #performer #poem #poetry #poet #installation #multimedia #yourbodyistheocean #moncorpsestlocean #zomfam #artist #artistic #artistsoninstagram #artistlife #literature #qtbipoc #bipoc #gay #queer #trans #transgender #oneofthem #montreal #mauritius #transmauritius #lamackerel #kamalamackerel (at Parc Verdun)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CUaH6ygg52i/?utm_medium=tumblr

ten years ago, i graduated from this MA program (then called Theory, Culture and Politics). i was broke, in debt, traumatized (but didn’t have access to such language to name this at the time), thoroughly disillusioned with north-american academia.

and here we are, exactly 10 years since i defended my thesis, as a grassroots self- and community-taught educator, artist, facilitator, writer, going back to my alumni as a guest speaker.

if you want to join, i have put a link in the bio.

“Since graduating from the Theory, Culture and Politics MA program at Trent University in 2011, Kama La Mackerel has gone on to establish themselves as a leading multidisciplinary artist and writer in Canada. In this talk, they look over their body of artistic work of the past decade, which spans from performance, poetry, photography, the moving image to digital art and literary translation, to offer a theoretical framework in which they ground their aesthetics and politics.

At once a performance lecture and a studio visit, this talk will delve into the following questions: Is a decolonial enunciation possible at all in a racialized body that bears the weight of colonial history? What are the strategies of selfhood that a trans artist can deploy to catalyze new signs of identity and innovative sites of collaboration and contestation? How can hybrid spaces and interstices provide an anticolonial framework to disrupt fixed identifications as they relate to space, time, history, language, kinship and the body?”

#poetry #poet #artist #artistic #artistsoninstagram #artists #canlit #literature #qtbipoc #bipoc #gay #queer #trans #transgender #femme #oneofthem #montreal #montrealart #mtl #queerart #montrealartist #mauritius #zomfam #lamackerel #kamalamackerel #peterborough #trent #culturalstudies (at Trent University)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CUKz2MEL6N4/?utm_medium=tumblr

It’s been a year since ZOM-FAM has been out into the world. I had only one dream for this poetry: That she would make her way into people’s hearts. (Well two dreams: I also *really* wanted this book to make the CBC books preview list ‘coz I have lil'immigrant dreams like that, y'know?)

The way these stories have been received in the world has exceeded all my expectations: It not only made the CBC books preview list, but became a CBC Best Book of Poetry, a Globe & Mail Best Book Debut, a finalist for both the QWF Concordia University First Book Award and the Writers’ Trust of Canada Dayne Ogilvie Prize!

#ZOMFAM has also been featured on CBC Books, CBC Arts, Radio-Canada, CityNews, Fugues, Revue Jeu, Spirale, Autostraddle, Xtra & so much more, with reviews in Canthius, Arc, Montreal Review of Books, Room, & World Literature Today called it “a milestone in Mauritian literature.” It’s presently being taught in universities in the UK, the US and Canada ✨

In January, ZOM-FAM went into its 2nd print run, which I still can’t believe. This means that 1,000+ copies of this book have made their way onto people’s bookshelves

But more than anything, the greatest joy has been when the book landed in Mauritius this July. This was the true homecoming. True, expansive joy, like I never thought possible ♥️

So gratitude is in order: first of all for my wonderful, dedicated & diligent publishers @metonymypress. For all the indie bookstores that have stocked & promoted this book (& the many who hosted me for online readings & talks!) For everyone who invited me to teach, read, meet students, run workshops!

Everybody who has read, shared, reviewed, made an IG story & generally celebrated this poetry in their life. This means so much

@aun_li & Kai Yun Ching, again, for this dreamy cover that still takes my breath away

And all the queer, trans & racialized writers out there who supported me over the past year, taught me the ropes of “the industry,” supported me so I could sustain myself through this journey & still find joy, & still remain true to myself, my heart, my values. THANK YOU!

Photo credit: @___sel_de_mer
https://www.instagram.com/p/CT5t6NvLtKM/?utm_medium=tumblr

[english below]

#MONTRÉAL - je suis choyé·e de pouvoir FINALEMENT présenter une PERFORMANCE LIVE dans le cadre de @momentabiennale. // ’é // sera présenté ce vendredi, 10 septembre à 17h30 au Parc de Verdun (coin Lasalle & 2è Ave), près du fleuve (ça sera reporté au samedi en cas de pluie).

Si vous voulez le voir en live, il y a un lien dans la bio pour s'enregistrer. Sinon, ça va être diffusé sur les pages Facebook et Instagram de MOMENTA!

* // * // *

#MONTREAL - i am thrilled to be FINALLY presenting a LIVE PERFORMANCE as part of @momentabiennale. // ’é // will be presented this friday, 10 sept à 5:30pm at Parc de Verdun (corner Lasalle and 2è Ave), by the river (it will be postponed to Saturday in case of rain).

If you want to see the performance live, please register via the link in bio. Otherwise, it will be live streamed on the Facebook and Instagram pages of MOMENTA!

Photo credit: @vanessafortinphotographe

#momenta #momenta2021 #performance #performer #poem #poetry #poet #installation #multimedia #yourbodyistheocean #moncorpsestlocean #zomfam #artist #artistic #artistsoninstagram #artistlife #literature #qtbipoc #bipoc #gay #queer #trans #transgender #oneofthem #montreal #mauritius #lamackerel #kamalamackerel (at Parc Verdun)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CThXhBAn6Xz/?utm_medium=tumblr

i know this is a weird thing to say, given that we are still living through a pandemic, but really, it does feel like in spite of it all, in the past year, all my dreams came true ✨

& this feature on @cbcarts is an absolute, absolute dream come true! my lil’immigrant heart is full! ❤️

big love to @metonymypress & @mtlartsinter for having made a home for my art

LINK IN BIO if you wanna read the full piece!

#poetry #poet #artist #artistic #artistsoninstagram #artists #canlit #literature #qtbipoc #bipoc #gay #queer #trans #transgender #femme #oneofthem #montreal #montrealart #mtl #queerart #montrealartist #mauritius #zomfam #lamackerel #kamalamackerel

https://www.instagram.com/p/CTVhqgYH_A3/?utm_medium=tumblr

i know this is a weird thing to say, given that we are still living through a pandemic, but really, it does feel like in spite of it all, in the past year, all my dreams came true ✨

& this feature on @cbcarts is an absolute, absolute dream come true! my lil’immigrant heart is full! ❤️

big love to @metonymypress & @mtlartsinter for having made a home for my art

LINK IN BIO if you wanna read the full piece!

#poetry #poet #artist #artistic #artistsoninstagram #artists #canlit #literature #qtbipoc #bipoc #gay #queer #trans #transgender #femme #oneofthem #montreal #montrealart #mtl #queerart #montrealartist #mauritius #zomfam #lamackerel #kamalamackerel

https://www.instagram.com/p/CTVhqgYH_A3/?utm_medium=tumblr