July 12, 2018: Many people are not familiar with awareness art, which is mostly expressed through performance, theater and dance–creative concepts that have played a major role in human rights activism around the world and have different interpretations and meanings for all people. Many museums, theaters and studios in the United States and in Europe promote this kind of art in order to collect and unify different kinds of thoughts within a universal issue.
One of them is HIV and AIDS, since there hasn’t been a day in the world where there hasn’t been a person living with HIV facing discrimination, stigma or even hate speech. Ever since the epidemic began, many artists have collaborated with fellow activists to build compelling works to fight stigma.
One of those projects is No Pants No Problem, created in 2004 by Jessica Lynn Whitbread, a remarkable artist from the United States. Taking place at the International AIDS Conference, No Pants No Problem is an exceptional kind of art project, focusing on an open dialogue about specific kinds of fears and misunderstandings that people living with HIV face by presenting banners and artwork expressing acceptance, passion, and advocacy for all.
This year, No Pants No Problem is celebrating its fourteenth birthday in Amsterdam on July 26, starting at 9:30pm. The main party theme will be “I love sex workers.” Whitbread and other volunteers participating will talk about the importance of No Pants No Problem and what this artistic project means to many still affected by stigma.
As Whitbread explained, No Pants No Problem (NPNP) expands its project each year by focusing on a specific topic that related to HIV and AIDS. Most of the time, she tries to make NPNP fun, educational, inspirational and exciting to many of those that would like to create and share similar works that advocate for openness and establishing a memorable dialogue.
“Personally, I loved the NPNP in Melbourne (2014) with the tribute to women living with HIV and the leather-daddy Freddie Mercury number. Or maybe the NPNP in a three car garage in San Francisco (2013) with the red light play room. They have all had something special about them. Most of these were done on a zero budget, I think that having a sponsor for the first time ever – DYNAMIX INTERNATIONAL – is going to make this NPNP quite unique,” added Whitbread.
No Pants No Problem has left an unforgettable mark to many of those that were greatly inspired by it. Even after many years, Whitbread has received positive messages from participants, motivating her to expand this work in different countries where the topic of HIV and AIDS is still a taboo and unknown to many audiences.
This year, however, Whitbread has decided to create a significant turn and organized this year’s theme “I love Sex Workers.” “They are my friends, sometimes my lovers, but always my community,” she explained. “I wanted to make sure that the sex workers that came to the AIDS 2018 NPNP knew that they were special. And what better way to show you care then doing advocacy is your underwear.”
On the other hand, at this year’s No Pants No Problem, there will be a wide audience of volunteers helping out. One of them is DJ Cozmic Cat, who will be bringing in the musical arts into the project and will create a very dynamic atmosphere at this year’s NPNP.
Cozmic Cat met Jessica a few years back and said this project has had a great influence on her. She outlined how the message behind NPNP for her is to think outside the box when it comes to sexuality, gender, sex, health, our bodies and the choices we make.
“Events like NPNP are a reminder of the complexities of social relationships and stigma, and create art, brings communities together and creates dialogue. As a queer artist, as a Black woman, as a human being, these things are important to me,” explained Cozmic Cat.
When it comes to the deeper core meaning of NPNP, Cozmic Cat continued how this project has had a great impact on her, especially since she was unaware of the issues that many people living with HIV faced on a daily basis, regardless on their identity or their status. “As a Black member of the queer community, I think there is an intersection of struggles for social justice and it is important to address all forms of oppression. From my experience with NPNP, it has opened up my world to this community and allowed me give back more. For example, this last month, I was inspired to volunteer at a retreat for young people living with HIV in Ontario as a DJ, and it was an amazing fun time.”
Cozmic Cat started volunteering for this project in 2016, when she was with her partner in Durban at the International AIDS Conference and offered her DJ services as a volunteer. From then on, she has believed NPNP is her way of connecting with different communities and educating others. “We share the same values of building community through music and art for people who are often marginalized.”
Will you be in Amsterdam for AIDS 2018? If so, be sure to check out the No Pants No Problem party! Here is their Facebook page which has plenty of info about the what, when, where, why and how to participate.