Berlin Art Institute: Navigating Homophobia — One Frame at a Time
Artist talk, Q&A, and screening of two Malayalam short films explore queer self-representation, censorship, intimacy, art as activism, and queer cinematic narratives from contemporary India.
Against the backdrop of Berlin Pride Month, the Berlin Art Institute is pleased to present ´Navigating Homophobia — One Frame at a Time ‘: Artist Talk & Film Screening with Jijo Kuriakose, a public event with writer, artist, photographer, filmmaker, and current ifa CrossCulture Programme Fellow Jijo Kuriakose.
“Berlin Art Institute has always understood artistic practice as a space for exchange, dialogue, and freedom of expression. Presenting Jijo Kuriakose’s work, following Berlin Pride Month, allows us to open a conversation on queer visibility, censorship, and the power of art and cinema to create spaces of resistance and recognition across different cultural contexts.”
Ralf Schmitt & Stephanie Jünemann, Directors, Berlin Art Institute
The event takes place on August 7, 2026, from 7:00 – 9:00 pm. It brings together Jijo’s presentation and a short Q&A. The screening includes two Malayalam short films: Velipādu – The Revelation and AS WE SEE US (Film Premiere). Jijo Kuriakose is a writer, artist, photographer, filmmaker, and current fellow of the CrossCulture Programme (CCP) by ifa – Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen. His work focuses on male bodies, same-sex intimacy, queer self-representation, and the cultural politics of visibility in India.
Queerness in fine art, photography, documentary, and fictional cinema
In his presentation, Jijo will discuss queer self-representation and male homosexual expression in contemporary India. He will also cover democratic values, human rights, and freedom of expression. Additionally, Jijo will address state censorship and the use of art as a tool of activism. The talk will also introduce references from gay art history in India from the 1980s to the present. It will reflect on Jijo’s own experiences as an artist and filmmaker. He works across fine art, photography, documentary, and fictional cinema.
“The CrossCulture Programme supports exchange between civil society actors across borders, disciplines, and contexts. Jijo Kuriakose’s fellowship at Berlin Art Institute reflects the importance of artistic and cultural work in addressing human rights, visibility, and social dialogue.”
Jennifer Rücker, Head of CrossCulture Programme, ifa
The event connects BAI’s international residency and fellowship work with Berlin’s wider Pride Month context. Pride Month Berlin begins in June and features a program of panels, meetups, parties, workshops, and community events over four weeks.
BAI’s event adds an international artistic perspective to this city-wide moment of queer visibility. It does so by presenting queer cinematic narratives from Kerala and contemporary India.
Film Screening
Velipādu – The Revelation (2024)
Genre: Fictional short
Duration: 25m: 28s
Original language: Malayalam (with English Subtitles)
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2UCithNdes
Set against the sensory landscape of Kottayam, Velipādu – The Revelation follows Johnny, a soon-to-be priest, as he navigates a dissonant life and embarks on a journey of self-discovery. The film explores Malayali gay and queer desire through Christian music, intimate gestures, touch, faith, and same-sex affection.
AS WE SEE US (2026) – Film Premiere
Genre: Fictional short
Duration: 24m: 46s
Original language: Malayalam (with English Subtitles)
Trailer: https://youtu.be/RMBqU81EXz8?feature=shared
AS WE SEE US follows David, a retired teacher living in small-town Kerala, who is visited by Christy, a young caretaker, during a period of solitude. The film reflects on elderly queer lives, shared memory, care, and companionship. It highlights the intimate moments often missing from dominant narratives of queer life.
“For me, art and cinema have always been ways to survive, remember, and speak when society asks queer people to remain silent. Through this talk and screening, I want to share how images, bodies, spaces, and stories can become forms of resistance, intimacy, and self-representation.”
Jijo Kuriakose (Artist / Director / Producer / Writer)
About Jijo Kuriakose
Jijo Kuriakose is a writer, artist, photographer, and filmmaker from India whose practice focuses on queer visibility, male bodies, same-sex intimacy, and relationships among men, mostly from a South Indian context. He curated the queer art exhibition series Homomorphism in Cochin, Kerala, in 2015 and 2018, and continues to develop his photo series Androphilia, which explores the diversity of the male body.
His works have been shown in exhibitions including Living Disobediently at the Queer Asia Conference, SOAS London, Between the Lines – a tribute to Manoj N at Gallery 7, Mattancherry, Kerala, and Vichithra (Queer) Nation by Engendered, New Delhi. His documentary Njān Sānjo / I’m Sānjo was selected by several film festivals, including the Competition section of the Chicago South Asian Film Festival, while his short film Velipādu – The Revelation was selected by more than forty international festivals, including KASHISH Pride Film Festival Mumbai and Perth Queer Film Festival, and received several awards.
About ifa CrossCulture Programme
For his current fellowship at the Berlin Art Institute, Jijo Kuriakose is participating in the CrossCulture Programme (CCP) by ifa – Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen. The CrossCulture Programme funds 50 to 60 professionals and volunteers from over 40 countries each year. Fellows spend two to three months working with host organizations in Germany or CCP partner countries to broaden their expertise, build networks, and further develop transcultural skills.
About Berlin Art Institute
Founded in 2015, the Berlin Art Institute (BAI) is a distinctive, independent institution operating at the intersection of contemporary art production, cross-disciplinary education, and international exchange. It offers a dynamic professional studio environment alongside a broad spectrum of programs designed for artists, scholars, cultural practitioners, and institutions from around the
world. Over the past decade, BAI has welcomed residents globally, nurturing a vibrant community grounded in experimentation, critical dialogue, and international collaboration. Throughout the year, BAI also hosts an extensive array of Master Classes, Online Courses, and Workshops. Renowned artists, curators, critics, and cultural producers lead these sessions. They address a wide range of topics in contemporary art. Through its diverse formats, public presentations, and exhibition space, BAI continues to foster meaningful connections between emerging and established voices, linking Berlin’s art ecosystem with the global art community.
Event Details
Title: Navigating Homophobia — One Frame at a Time: Artist Talk & Film Screening with Jijo Kuriakose
Speaker: Jijo Kuriakose
Screening: Velipādu – The Revelation and AS WE SEE US
Date: August 7, 2026
Time: 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Location: Berlin Art Institute, An der Industriebahn 12–16, Building 404 (Top Floor), 13088, Berlin
Admission (Free). RSVP required
RSVP Link Here
Timeline
7:00 – 8:00 pm Artist / Director Presentation: Navigating Homophobia — One Frame at a Time
8:00 – 8:10 pm Q&A with Jijo Kuriakose
8:10 – 8:35 pm Screening: Velipādu – The Revelation
8:35 – 9:00 pm Screening: AS WE SEE US
Text by Berlin Art Institute: Naveed Majeed, Head of Communications & Outreach
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