o lo que seas, Experimentos Semánticos en El Archivo John J. Wilcox, Jr. [or whatever you may be, Semantic Experiments in the John J. Wilcox, Jr. Archive]

Emilio Martínez Poppe 2020
36x26”
Screenprint on paper

o lo que seas brings together a collection of phrases from Central and South American LGBT newspapers, magazines, and advocacy group newsletters that include instances of gender-inclusive language from the 1960s to the 90s found in the John J. Wilcox, Jr. archives. While today many Spanish speakers embrace the use of ampersands, asterisks, or the letters x and e to neutralize gendered grammar, the phrases collected in this work demonstrate an early impetus in this semantic turn that prioritized the inclusion of feminine pronouns in general addresses and calls to action. Many of these manifest through the use of slashes or parentheses to create two reading options while conjuring a third space in their slippages.

[masculine]everyone and [feminine]everyone gather and speak [masculine]ones and [feminine]ones [masculine]Friend, [feminine]friend or whatever you may be: Congratulations! to [masculine]/[feminine]the [masculine]/[feminine]lucky [masculine]/[feminine]subscribers Dear [masculine]friends ([feminine]friends): all [masculine] the sissies Incredulous [masculine]ones / [feminine]ones all [feminine]the lesbians and homosexuals to be [feminine]signaled and [masculine]signaled [masculine]/[feminine]the heterosexuals The sexual orientation of the / head “strange [masculine]ones” and “strange [feminine]ones” [masculine]Just [feminine]Them RADIOS AND TV GAYS [feminine]ALL [feminine]UNITED [masculine]many and [feminine]many [masculine]the success of your beautiful-gaynessssss!!!

Pañuelo o lo que seas [or whatever you may be Scarf]

Emilio Martínez Poppe 2021
36x26”
Inkjet print on silk

Oye... ❀ ¿Eres de ambiente? [Hey... ❀ Are you from the scene?]

Emilio Martínez Poppe 2021
Screenprint on T-Shirt