Happenings and discussion

Nail studio employees often have to do physical work under difficult circumstances in order to provide the cosmetic services their customers desire. However, nails are also a medium for creativity and self-expression. As part of the event “Playing field:Body”, three performances shed light on the various facets of nail art. Afterwards, the participants and visitors will have the chance to share their ideas in a moderated discussion.

3:30 pm – 7:30 pm | The Managed Hand. Performance by Maria Alcaide
Maria Alcaide’s research-based art deals with – among other things – the “beauty industry” in general and nails in particular. With a keen eye and compassionate humour, she highlights the socio-political dynamics and societal norms that are associated with services in the beauty industry. In her performance, she presents excerpts from her piece “The Managed Hand”.

4:30 pm – 7:30 pm | Nail art performance by Camilla Inge Volbert
Building on her experience in fashion design, Camilla Inge Volbert has devoted herself to nails and nail art for several years. Her meticulously designed nails are high in demand and often featured in avant-garde photo shoots. Despite her established position, Camilla is familiar with the downsides of the branch. In “Playing field:Body” she wishes to draw attention to these shortcomings and difficulties. In her performance, she offers insights into her artistic work.

4:30 pm – 7:30 pm | Object of Love. Interactive art performance with Eily Thams
For Eily Thams, nails are a playing field where conventional gender roles are split asunder. At their private studio “Thams Does Claws”, they offer a safe space for Berlin’s queer, trans, Black and indigenous people of colour (QTBIPOC) community. Their aim is to create a protected environment where people can freely express their individuality and practise self-care. In their performance “Object of Love”, Thams transforms objects of emotional value, which visitors have brought with them – jewellery, lucky charms, songs or poems – into nail art.

7:30 pm – 9 pm | isla Berlin speaks with Maria Alcaide, Camilla Inge Volbert and Eily Thams (discussion in English)
In their studio isla Berlin, Charissa Chioccarelli and Magdalena Bonamin explore various forms of self-expression. Their feminist agenda consists of nail art, tattoos, piercings, fashion and even community-building. For “hands on nails”, isla Berlin developed the DIY station at which visitors can try their hand at nail art themselves. In the closing “Playing field:Body” event, Charissa Chioccarelli and Magdalena Bonamin lead a discussion between the evening’s various participants.

Free entry. Please register here.