by Alper Turan on Kübra Uzun

Flipping the script, curator Alper Turan writes on artist/performer Kübra Uzun, a.k.a. Q-BRA, trans muse for both local and international artists, who redefines the traditional concept of a gendered muse. Turan tells Kübra’s story, how she asserts her agency and shares knowledge of the past four decades of LGBTQIA+ history in Turkey as well as the artistic lineage of Bülent Ersoy, Zeki Müren, and Huysuz Virjin (Cranky Virjin). Q-BRA’s unanswered question is on the lips of those in many countries: “Is it harder to leave, or harder to stay?”

Alper Turan with B. Toprak Karakaya, Leman Sevda Darıcıoğlu, and Koli Art Space (Yasemin Kalaycı & Elçin Acun)

The illusory victimhood of ultranationalists draws passionate responses from queer culture workers from Turkey who are committed to undoing their hate.