
Mí¨a ¦torková’s queer and Czech identity always felt at odds, which is what inspired their undergraduate research project.
"For much of my life, I’ve been told that queerness and Czech-ness cannot exist at the same time; that queerness is something Western infringing on Slavic culture," says ¦torková. "My research has helped me reconcile these two identities."
¦torková, fifth-year student in the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Calgary, explains that queerphobia within contemporary Czech culture was inherited from the totalitarian regimes that historically occupied Czechia.

When ¦torková first learned about the queer cultural boom that occurred in the First Czechoslovak Republic during the interwar period, ¦torková saw the radical potential of exploring this history.
"Queer history is such a powerful tool in the contemporary rise of homophobia and transphobia especially."
"It’s really important to look back on history and see that queer people have always been here. It’s not a new concept."

Their project, funded through the Program for Undergraduate Research Experiences (PURE), is a collection of artwork incorporating materials from Czech queer archives. Through this work, ¦torková knit together the cultural traditions passed down to them by family with their exploration of queer identity.
¦torková applied textile practices taught to them by the women in their family. While always passionate about creating, ¦torková didn’t always see themselves as an artist.
"Art practices that are deemed as craft are female dominated. Textiles are a strong example of that. Its considered domestic labour - women’s work, and therefore its craft. When you knit a sweater, it’s not called art," explains ¦torková.

Accessible art and future research
As rewarding as this As an ambulatory wheelchair user with fluctuating physical abilities, ¦torková constantly negotiates between art and disability. Be it unreliable elevators, heavy studio doors, or the lack of relevant accommodations for different artistic mediums, accessible art is not the norm.Inspired by this experience, ¦torková will be reapplying for research funding this year for a While they were initially nervous about the translation between art and academia, ¦torková now encourages other fine arts students to try their hand at research.
"This experience has really helped me contextualize future works that I’m doing past this project. It’s a really great opportunity for all students, but I would say this is especially true for artists."