Ugly Duck is a dynamic arts collective based in London, dedicated to supporting underrepresented voices and emerging artists. Since their inception in August 2012, Ugly Duck has been committed to fostering cultural exchange and collaboration by providing a platform and a space for makers, community groups, professionals and the public to engage with unique cultural experiences and curated events.

Located in a Victorian warehouse in SE1 in London that has been transformed into a thriving space for creativity and innovation, serving as a vibrant home for numerous up-and-coming artists.

Recent highlights from Ugly Duck’s diverse program of events include DISCHARGED by Martin O’Brien and produced by Future Ritual, Pretty Doomed, Otherness Archive, @Disturbance, } p e r f o r m a n c e space {, Franko B (With A/Political), and Shocked Quartz.

Emma Stones (Producer, Chorus Arts) spoke to Deen Atger (Creative Director, Ugly Duck) about their unique showcase, @Disturbance, the need for empathetic approaches to curation and the role of care and collaboration in public programming.

–

ES Can you introduce @Disturbance?

DA @Disturbance was created during lockdown in October 2020. From an experiment around performance and live streaming it is now an interdisciplinary, experimental artistic residency & development programme. It champions & supports emerging LGBTQIA+ artists and culminates in hybrid & immersive public performances showcased live at Ugly Duck & online. Our goal is to enhance experimentation, documentation and accessibility of queer performance art through cutting-edge live streaming and online tools.

–

ES This is your fifth edition of @Disturbance, what have you learnt, how has it grown and developed since that first iteration?

DA It’s strange because it feels like we started just yesterday. We've grown our community and network of artists, creatives and partners. From a team of just three people, we now have creatives involved in lighting, mentoring, tech, and more. Despite this growth, it still feels small compared to our ambitions. And if some things have changed, others remain the same, such as the care we want to bring to both the artists involved and the audience. We aim to experiment and provoke dialogue in a world increasingly at odds with itself.

Themes have emerged in the artworks showcased at @Disturbance, reflecting the pressing issues and conversations of our time. From explorations of identity and belonging to critiques of societal norms and power structures, artworks and performances have sparked in the past years thought-provoking discussions and inspired meaningful connections.

Looking ahead, we aspire to continue pushing boundaries and challenging norms through our programming. We aim to further amplify underrepresented voices and foster inclusivity and accessibility in different aspects of the event. Ultimately, our goal is to create a space where artists and audiences can come together to engage, provoke, and inspire one another.

This year, amidst the toxic anti-trans rhetoric in the UK and European landscape, we are not only providing responses but also offering alternative visions and narratives about our identities—stories that we should be able to tell ourselves.

–

ES You partnered with Carefuffle and Shape Arts, how did this expand the programme and was it in ways you didn’t anticipate?

DA Partnering with Carefuffle and Shape Arts, both disabled-led organisations, has been incredible. Many of the artists in our programme have intersectional identities and various connections to disability, making this collaboration vital. The support from Anita Wolska-Kaslow and Elinor Hayes has been instrumental in helping us understand different aspects of accessibility.

I didn’t anticipate that this partnership would lead to such a profound and sometimes stark examination of our society and how we perpetuate ableism through speed, stress, and lack of effort or direction. I believe it’s our shared responsibility as artists and creatives to strive for greater accessibility.

As we mentioned from the start, this is still very much the beginning of our journey, and this year we are placing an emphasis on the learning process. For this particular edition and to truly achieve our long-term goals, we would need more development time and funding. However, I believe it’s important and hopefully encouraging to share our work in progress at the end of the residency.

–

ES Can you talk more about the artists involved and your curation process?

DA This year, we opted for a targeted approach instead of an open call, seeking recommendations from our network of previous artists and collaborators. Our guest curators, Gisou Golshani, Anita Wolska-Kaslow, and MK Margetson, reviewed a plethora of outstanding works, with a strong emphasis on accessibility. From this selection we discovered or rediscovered the work of amazing talents.

Kobi Essah Ayensuo will unveil a new soundscape that blends singing with powerful spoken word, showcased within a set featuring projections and intricate set designs. Based in London, Kobi is a multifaceted creative—poet, musician, playwright, and facilitator. Their work delves into their black queer, trans identity, Ghanaian heritage, and the reimagining and decolonizing of black history narratives.

Alex Billingham, whose work is rooted in the theme of survival, will present a new creation for @Disturbance that merges film, video game environments, set design, and movement performance. Their piece reflects on how AIs and humans perceive the world, playing with future scenarios to find better ways for us all to survive.

Samiir Saunders, an artist, poet, and filmmaker based in Birmingham, will present a new creation of sound-text poetry performed alongside their virtual self, delivering an experience reminiscent of queer alternative TV shows and imaginative world-building. Samiir’s work is designed to equip individuals and communities with tools for curiosity, compassion, and vulnerability in their everyday lives.

Ace Rahman is undertaking an ambitious durational performance that incorporates an installation, interactive sounds, projections, and striking costumes. Ace’s work consistently fuses traditional elements with ultra-contemporary aesthetics.

Lastly, Ella Frost is working on a new video piece that explores themes of activism, sorrow, and Afro-Caribbean mythology. The film will be presented within a bespoke installation that combines natural and digital elements.

–

ES Collectivity and Collaboration are key themes in @Disturbance. How do these themes manifest in the exhibition and event ?

DA The collective effort behind @Disturbance is reflected in every aspect of the event. Knives, an incredible set designer and artist who usually works on film sets, joined us to handle set design and outdoor installations. Mahalia Henry-Richards crafted our artistic visual identity, while poet and performer Oduenyi Nwikke has been integral in community outreach and lighting. Our DIY approach allows individuals to bring their unique skills, share their expertise, and learn simultaneously. Rob Hall, our technical director, provides invaluable knowledge and experience, managing various cameras, projectors, and software for the livestream. We also have committed technical support from camera professional Graham Trelfer and sound engineer Yuki Nakayama.

For the residency, each artist is paired with other professional artists to bring diverse experiences, fresh perspectives, and new connections. This year, Anne Duffau, Josh Woolford, Seda Ergul, and Gisou Golshani have taken on this mentoring role. I apologise for all the name-dropping, but it’s truly one of the best parts of this experience.

We have numerous meetings focused on vision and storyboarding, working gradually to create something beautiful. Brainstorming and developing ideas to elevate the performance work and enhance the audience’s experience is one of the most rewarding aspects of this project.

Additionally, specific collaborative projects, such as the joint installations and collective workshops, amplify the spirit of teamwork. We work with each artist often assisting on the blend of their mediums to create new experiences for them and for the audience.

Audience involvement is another key aspect. We aim to create an inclusive environment where the audience can engage with the art and with each other, fostering a sense of community and shared experience.

-

ES Can you talk me through your highlights of the day?

DA It's tough to choose, as there were many highlights. One standout moment was Ella Frost building a well with layered bricks in the Garage and filling it with oat milk and water, transforming it into a projection surface for their film. We weren't sure how they would manage it, but it went smoothly and added a monumental feel to the show.

Another highlight was Samiir Saunders' performance. They recorded multiple versions of themselves throughout the week and finally interacted with these recordings during the show. Hearing the audience laugh out loud was incredibly rewarding and gave me a great sense of achievement.

The audio description workshop, the standing ovation for Kobi Essah Ayensuo, and using our outdoor space for installations and a bar were also memorable. Alex Billingham's durational work kept the audience captivated with its intensity and beauty, while Ace's sound installation using connected pomegranates was stunning.

Receiving the best feedback from a queer deaf person who thoroughly enjoyed their evening was the perfect end to an amazing day.

-

Enhanced accessibility is at the centre of Atger's curation for this iteration of @Disturbance. This inherent championing and supporting of diverse creative expression enables the programme to truly experiment in forms of collaboration.