yourfriendkas
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I'm yourfriendkas, a friend and artist based between Amsterdam and Almaty.

I work with (access to) open/communal space; shared and decentralized knowledge; translocal solidarity; and the connection of direct action / resistance to art and cultural work.

My output usually consists of audio/visual experiences, writing, performance, publications, community building, and various reproductive/supportive involvements.

Collective spaces that are a home to me include, currently:

  • buulbuul, a lyrics & sound collective consisting of me and Haider Timur, exploring poetic and musical concepts from homoerotic aspects in historical forms of the Persianate world, to modern-day pop songs in Central Asia.

  • School of Commons, a global community-based initiative dedicated to peer learning, where me and Aga Guńka did our "Co/living: Points of Entry" research as part of the 2023 cohort. I also co-ordinate the Alumn* network of SoC for 2025.

  • 2.Dh5 festival, which gathers every year organizations and people working towards a society based on freedom and solidarity. I have been co-organizing the festival in our non-heirarchical team since 2021, doing everything from co-curating the program of workshops, discussions, to running a mini film festival every year, to social media and serving food.

  • Housing coop and free space SUP, a group of cultural workers aiming to realise a sustainable and autonomous housing co-op. We are working to convert a temporary living space in Amsterdam West, which we called home for ten years, into a permanent reality. Fun fact: I also designed and made the SUP website~

In the past (and possibly future?), the list also included:

  • Starlings collective, an Utrecht-based migrant street theater group, making interventions and performances for occasions such as International Migrants' Day and International Womens' Day.

  • bASIC aCTIVIST kITCHEN at BAK basis for actuele kunst, which worked to allow grassroots groups and visitors of the art space to share a space and engage in communal cooking

  • Birdcage collective, a community organization and daily online radio that focuses on forward thinking events involving dance music

At different times, I also support at Casco Art Institute with production and maintenance; at the Doe-het-zelf Werkplaats communal DIY space with various things; at the Moira Expo communal space with archiving and space maintenance.

Credits: Website background image by Paritet Buro.