Part of Trafó’s transdisciplinary focus Nothing About Us Without Us.

Director Markus Öhrn and visual artist Karol Radziszewski present a brutal lesson in a little-known history. Their performance Phobia counters the rise of anti-LGBTQ+ measures in Poland and offers a rollercoaster ride through stereotypes, apparent tolerance, alleged acceptance, and some of our most deeply held, supposedly righteous beliefs.

After the Venice Biennale, l’Odéon in Paris and Wiener Festwochen in Vienna, this will be the first time that the internationally known Swedish director presents his work to audiences in Hungary.

Phobia is a convergence of two different artistic practices. Markus Öhrn employs an exaggerated, sharp, almost cartoonish visual language, while Karol Radziszewski employs a research-based and documentary approach, focusing on Poland's non-heteronormative, untold history. The performance, in typical Markus Öhrn fashion, is constructed in three episodes. The Fag Fighters, a pink gay guerrilla from Radziszewski's ongoing project since 2007, confront members of a family, as well as representatives from the worlds of business and art.

Phobia serves as an ironic critique of society. The artists examine the issue of violence and stigmatizing stereotypes surrounding LGBTQ+ individuals, but with the "Fag Fighters" they take over the language of hatred for their own use. Their critical engagement with the domains of family, business, and culture, serves as a pretext to delve into the exploitation of minority groups, driven by the desire to build their own symbolic capital, amass wealth, or strengthen authority. One of the themes explored is the so-called "pinkwashing," when international corporations, capitalizing on excessive consumerism, promote their brands by simulating support for LGBTQ+ individuals.

So, what is homophobia then? Is it only explicit violence and hatred expressed directly, or could it be a hidden element in integration scenarios written by heteronormative individuals?