Bulletin Board Expo 2024

A Collaborative Celebration of Queer Art and Community

I had the incredible opportunity to participate in the Bulletin Board Expo, an experimental exhibition hosted at Treehouse NDSM during the Queerhouse 2024 event. It was more than just an art show—it was a vibrant, interactive, and deeply personal exploration of queerness, community, and creativity.

The Setting: A Haven of Joy and Creativity

Queerhouse 2024 transformed Treehouse into a buzzing hub of artistic expression and communal engagement. Over three days, the space served as a creative recharging station, a safe space for self-expression, and a celebration of queer identities. Visitors from all walks of life gathered to experience performances, exhibitions, and workshops designed to spark connection and dialogue.

The Bulletin Board Expo, curated as part of this unique event, invited artists to engage directly with the public through a two-sided exhibition: one side showcased curated works by queer artists, while the other encouraged visitors to leave their mark—quite literally—on a growing community installation.

My Contribution: "Emotional Sharing"

For the exhibition, I presented my piece, "Emotional Sharing", a kawaii-inspired artwork created during the Tropikali Festival, where I had the chance to capture the essence of diverse individuals through live portraits. This experience opened my eyes to how much our surroundings influence our feelings and how easily we share emotions when the environment feels welcoming.

The centerpiece of my contribution was an A4 drawing celebrating the beauty of human interaction, featuring vibrant colors and expressive faces inspired by the people I met at Tropikali. Surrounding this were blank, black-and-white versions of the same drawing—without mouths. Each sheet included a simple question, inviting viewers to reflect on their emotions in different contexts:

How do you feel at work?

How do you feel walking in the city?

How do you feel at home?

How do you feel at Queerhouse?

Visitors were encouraged to add the missing mouths, visually expressing their feelings. Watching the blank copies transform into a colorful emotional tapestry was a powerful reminder of how sharing our emotions helps us connect—not only with others but also with ourselves.

The Impact of Connection Through Art

"Emotional Sharing" was more than a personal project; it became a catalyst for dialogue. As participants drew mouths to express happiness, frustration, curiosity, or peace, they shared fragments of their inner world. These small acts of expression became part of a larger emotional collage, mirroring the diverse and fluid nature of the queer experience.

What struck me most was how these individual contributions deepened the sense of community in the room. People paused to admire others’ additions, found reflections of themselves in the emotions of strangers, and left inspired by stories they might never have encountered otherwise.

A Shared Vision for the Future

The Bulletin Board Expo embodied the spirit of Queerhouse 2024: creativity as a bridge for empathy and understanding. It showed us that art can be a powerful tool for community-building, offering a space where everyone’s voice matters, and no emotion is too small to share.

As I packed up my artwork and said goodbye to the Treehouse pavilion, I felt a deep sense of gratitude for being part of such an inclusive and vibrant experience. I left with the hope that "Emotional Sharing" sparked something meaningful in those who interacted with it—just as much as they inspired me with their stories. Through platforms like the Bulletin Board Expo, we’re reminded of the power of creativity to foster dialogue, bring people together, and celebrate the beauty of being human.