Public toilets, as spaces used by everyone, became a focal topic in of our site-specific exercise. We were interested in what these environments represent socially and culturally, and how they reinforce particular norms around gender. In reflecting on these dynamics, we questioned how the binary signage of “male” and “female” perpetuates cisnormative assumptions, effectively excluding gender-diverse individuals.

As a performative intervention, we altered the signage by covering the labels with sparkling tape. This act sought to disrupt the taken-for-granted visual language of gendered spaces, drawing attention to its constructed nature. Notably, the tape remains on the doors, extending the intervention beyond the duration of the performance and leaving a trace that hopefully continues to challenge normative and systematic routines.

Created and performed with Annalise Van Even in the context of FAICC 2021