Hottest Chick In Town

As a teenager, a youth house in Flanders once elected Jan as ‘the hottest chick’ of the year. This was without their knowledge, at least until it got published in a locally distributed magazine. Homophobic situations such as these were only the beginning of Jan’s understanding on how queer people easily get marginalised. Over the years however, it was exactly their non-conformity that unlocked endless amounts of inner and outer beauty. 15 years later, Jan feels ready to receive their award of ‘hottest chick’ – but this time on their own terms.

© Koen Van Buggenhout
© Koen Van Buggenhout

In the music and light performance Hottest Chick in Town, Wallyn coalesces those feelings and experiences with support by Samuel Vekeman (in charge of mixing and sound coaching), Kopano Maroga (dramaturgy) and Malik Zaryaty (choreography). Both an exploration and celebration of queer seclusion, the performance encompasses a 60-minutes-long soundtrack originally produced by Wallyn and inspired by the G note, also known as ‘sol’ (which immediately evokes the word ‘solitude’). The audience is invited to separately take a seat on stage and undergo the musical experience in solitude. Each viewer decides its own relation to the rather mysterious ceremony: either relaxing, or getting up and going bonkers on the beat.

Music & Performance: Jan Wallyn — Sound coach, Mentoring & Mixing: Samuel Vekeman — Dramaturgy: Kopano Maroga — Light Design: Steven Brys, Britt Ryckebosch & Ben Olbrechts — Production: Britt Ryckebosch — Choreography: Malik Zaryaty & Jan Wallyn — Movement Coach: Raquel Suarez Dueñas — Styling: Alessa Altavilla & Rita Kashayeva — Accessories: Koan Asaky & Iris Janin — Make-up design: Guillaume Dalissier for MAKE UP FOR EVER, Brussels — Photography: Koen Van Buggenhout — Assistant photography: Michael Bolbotchan - Special thanks to: Sander Notenbaert, those who contributed to the work-in-progress feedback sessions — Supported and produced by: Gouvernement (Nomadische Werkplaats voor Nieuwe Meesters), GC De Muze (Meise), workspacebrussels, Trix — Residency Partners: deSingel — Kaaistudio's — Kunstencentrum Voo?uit — Ultima Vez

Artist

Residencies

31.05.2021 - 12.06.2021

Ultima Vez