Upon donning a VR headset, users are transported to ancient Egypt, where they explore a vast temple complex adorned with towering sculptures of 16 queer African deities, and visit the tomb of Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep, the earliest recorded same-sex couple in human history, dating back to 2500 BCE.
As users navigate the temple’s sacred spaces, they undergo a ritual of transformation and rebirth, watched over by deities and ancestors. Blending virtual reality with queer history and spirituality, “Blackstar Sanctuary” reclaims and reanimates a long-suppressed lineage of queer African divinity and offers a powerful challenge to heteronormative interpretations of the past.
Director:
Marques Redd & Mikael Owunna
Marques Redd: Marques Redd is a traditional African cosmologist, filmmaker, and co-founder of Rainbow Serpent, an organization at the intersection of Black LGBTQ art, technology, and spirituality. His work centers... Read More
