Bipolar Abdul and FLUID/ITY Social Connections
We were so delighted to support Bipolar Abdul and the Queen’s at FLUID/ITY in their Social Connections project.
FLUID/ITY is a LGBTQIA+ Drag Club Night held once a month and was founded by Bipolar Abdul and Eboni Whyte. To complete the FLUID/ITY Queen team, they also have Anna Popp and Naomi Carter.
This project was designed to make drag artistry in Doncaster more visible within the community, to allow people the opportunity to get to know the group and ask questions in a safe, but open way.
Bipolar was keen to showcase the artistry of drag and each Queen’s individual inspirations. The project also aimed to support FLUID/ITY in expanding into a wider community space and taking drag to new heights, exploring gender fluidity, roles and stereotypes.
Within the timeframe of this project, Bipolar made four fantastic videos. The videos gave our audience the opportunity to learn more about FLUID/ITY and what it is, the Drag Artists and their inspirations and also their thoughts on topics such as Ru Paul’s Drag Race and the diversity of Drag.
When I had the opportunity to speak to Bipolar and reflect on the project as a whole, they offered some really interesting insight on how they felt the project had progressed Drag and their own artistic self in Doncaster and where they felt they wanted to explore next.
When I asked Bipolar what part of the project’s creativity interested them they mentioned the editing and filming process.
They said ‘That was great, editing the story time, I absolutely loved it’.
It’s great to know Bipolar was able to express themself through the editing of the videos to showcase the amazing talent and drag artistry at FLUID/ITY.
It was apparent when speaking to Bipolar that making the videos was a step in a different direction from the way they are used to presenting the art of drag. This would have started when the artists could no longer perform on stage to an audience. We were so proud to support them as they continued to explore this idea further.
Bipolar said ‘we are very lip sync and music based’.
Referring to the usual music videos they make, but with this Social Connections project they have taken it in a more informative direction, answering the community’s key questions and learning more about the Queen’s themselves.
As our conversation continued, it was apparent that Bipolar had missed working with the three other Queen’s, being able to perform on stage as a group.
Throughout lockdown, Bipolar explained:
‘All of our videos are separate, we’ve all been in individual shows separately, so it’s been kind of hard to be in a drag haus, but not be in the same house.’
This Social Connections project allowed the artists to come together again and express themselves through the art of the films they made.
‘Feeling like we’ve been able to do something as a group, which obviously we haven’t been able to do for ages’.
It’s wonderful to know we have supported this fabulous group of artists to come together for them to create something brilliant for Doncaster.
Bipolar and I discussed how they felt the project had progressed FLUID/ITY and the drag community in Doncaster. Of course, we’d also previously discussed how it has enabled them to create during this time and be present on social media.
Interestingly Bipolar mentioned how the videos had caused more traffic on their Instagram page) and had generated a different following and reaction through the page (not just the younger demographic but an older generation too). It’s great to know that through the project support more Doncaster people were able to see the wonderful artistry of Drag.
I was interested in knowing where Bipolar Abdul could see themselves in the future, after the completion of this project. Bipolar began to passionately speak of how they want to ‘do something aimed at teenagers’.
As they explored this idea, Bipolar went on to say: ‘I really want to travel round schools and do talks in drag’ in an effort to teach teens that if they are queer they can own it and be proud of it.
You can check out all the fantastic videos Bipolar and the team at FLUID/ITY have created on our YouTube Channel Right Up Our Street. Also follow them on social media as they continue to grow the Doncaster Drag Scene. We are so excited to see where they go and what they do next.
@Fluid/ity
Right Up Our Street June 2021