Where’s Steve ?

Artwork created during a one-month art residency at Q21 for the exhibition “No Dancing Allowed” curated by Bogomir Doringer in Vienna (06/22-11/22). The printed artwork (150 x 109 cm) was displayed in a lightbox.

Having previously drawn a rave scene last year out of longing to dance with people during the lockdown, I was honored to be invited as an artist in residence for Bogomir Doringer’s exhibition “No Dancing Allowed” opening on June 21^st 2022.

During my art residency, I had time to reflect on how I felt when going to rave parties these recent years in Nantes. What came out are those contrasted feelings: A mix of fear and fun, of excitement and anxiety, of empowerment and oppression. As a party-goer or organiser, I am sure some of you can relate to these mixed feelings, whether during covid’s global restrictions, because you live in a country that does not allow it or where police brutality against these events is strong.

In Nantes, on June 21^st 2019, Steve Maia Caniço, a young French party-goer, went out looking for fun to an outdoor techno party during the «Fête de la Musique» (Music Day) but never came home. A police intervention involving tear gas on account of noise ended in 14 people falling into the nearby river; Steve didn't came out.

The weeks and years following the tragedy, people came out in the streets demanding « Où est Steve ? » (Where’s Steve?) to express their anger over the way the police handled the night and asking for justice.

In my tribute artwork, through this question, I invite onlookers to search on the internet for Steve’s photo so as to spot him in a large dancing crowd. Thus, the title both referring to a worldwide game and to a local tragedy holds this ambiguity I wanted to share of fun and fear.

But most of all, when you look at Steve’s smile and all the dancers surrounding him, what I want to say through this giant rave drawing is to let go of the fear, keep on dancing and celebrating life like Steve would have done if he was still with us. Save the rave ! Justice for Steve !