Aquarius (they/them) is an afrofuturist, non-binary queer artist & ambassador of living one’s truth. Delivering their inimitable style of living art performance to the world – one stage, one dance floor, one mind at a time – Aquarius creates works that challenge, deconstruct and reimagine normative ideas of gender, race, and social politics. As the performative love-child of Grace Jones and Prince, and a child of the Royal House of LaBeija, they follow the footsteps of a rich legacy in gender performance and queer identity through the lens of the Black American experience.
Existing to perform since their inception, Aquarius found their path through experimenting with fashion, music, design & movement. Having gone through many evolutions as an artist, their practice has involved bending edges and personal boundaries to explore the possibilities of the human body, of emotion, of mental fortitude, and connection to spirit. Aquarius performs because they have acknowledged in themselves an ability to tell a story without words, to allow their body intelligence to inform each movement and decision. Their performance is inherently physical, yet cerebral and thought provoking, challenging each viewer to shed their own personal boundaries to enter a parallel and ethereal reality of their own making – a destination in which Aquarius spends much of their time.
Aquarius developed a unique performance style, after spending many years attempting to fit molds that were not suitable. Having never trained as a dancer or performer in their early years, they found themselves daunted by the idea of choreography, traditional burlesque, and the formally structured nature of traditional theatre stage performance. They had to dig deeper to find inspirations they identified with, and often gravitated to the outsider or othered individual. Until discovering more radical performance artists, Aquarius often struggled with loneliness that came with not having a creative partner or troupe who shared similar ideals or backgrounds in performance. However, that loneliness also is part of what helped form a distinctive style and ideology that defines Aquarius in the present.
Aquarius has reconnected with their true spirit through performance, embodying an identity that feels much more real than anything placed upon them before their creative awakening. They have built a practice of multi-disciplinary techniques, with performance at the core of each element of practice. Their work dovetails with design, fashion, visual art and makeup artistry – ventures that Aquarius pursues with passion. They create clothing, performance-wear, graphic visuals and designs that are the catalyst to their lifestyle vision, Get Funkked.
A philosophy for anyone who feels compelled to be the truest version of themselves, despite all the falsehood that has been attached to their identity. A personal gospel that gives power to those who choose to walk the path less traveled. So… Go Ahead, Get Funkked.
Aquarius created Get Funkked as a defiant answer to these doubts, and it is meant to exist as a dichotomy, just as they have found to exist within themselves. There was a realization of the sheer capacity of power that is universally accessible to every being. They believe that the destiny of coming into this particular world means exploring this truth – that within, each of us are truly as vast as the Universe. And overcoming the galactic hurdles life puts in our path is where we get to tap into that vastness. The challenge for many is finding comfort in something so grand and unknown.
Aquarius found power in taking back the reality which was altered by the messages they received as a child. And now, in embodying a spirit of oneness in hand with individuality, they understand their destiny for creation and expansion, as opposed to consumption & depletion.
Performance Art is more than just a creative outlet. It opens one avenue to discovering an evolved version of yourself. Engaging in a practice that centers the body as a place for expansive discovery and rediscovery is as transformative as it is affirming. The act of embodying conceptual ideas, of challenging one’s personal beliefs, and channeling the otherworldly energy that resides in our consciousness – these meld together to give temporary voice to the multi-dimensionality of the space we exist in. All versions of our being, which exist infinitely through space and time, are all conspiring in that moment of performance – creating an irreproducible & intangible yet indisputably ‘real’ moment of authentically shared consciousness – ONENESS.
In Practice:
Discover: Identify & research an inspiration or concept.
Immerse: Dive into possibility without limitations.
Experiment: Engage in a sensory exploration of the topic, leaving no stone unturned.
Construct: Find visual elements to give shape to your persona.
Embody: Explore the innermost essence to the outer limits of this entity.
Create: Shape your findings into being and present your expanded knowledge.
Through a journey of the creative, spiritual, and physical selves, it is possible to discover a depth of being which resonates in the truth of the universe…
Boundless.
Infinite.
Eternal.
YOU.