Text by Guilherme Higashizima and Matheus Lima
Photography by Matheus Lima
Whole Festival 2024 transcended the typical gathering of music and art; it was a celebration of queer identity, where self-expression flourished in many forms. Fashion emerged as a powerful medium, allowing attendees to explore and assert their individuality. Many used fashion as a tool to defy social norms, showcasing styles that blurred gender boundaries. The festival was alive with bold aesthetics and fluid expressions, with fashion serving as a mechanism to challenge conventional expectations often projected on queer bodies.
The clothing at the festival not only expressed personal aesthetics and style but also carried rich cultural heritage with it. We could see from the crowd, people from different nationalities using their traditional garments, styled on their own, full of queer influences. Also, a lot of upcycled outfits, stamped phrases and fun designs within the genderless options reflected the identity and diversity of the West Side, especially within the Latino community.
At the beach, the lake fostered a more prevalent sense of nudity, particularly during the day. This openness became a powerful form of expression and freedom. Here, being naked represented liberation rather than exposure—an embrace of one’s body free from societal judgment. In this queer utopia, nudity became a profound statement of body positivity and self-ownership, celebrating bodies rather than policing them.
It's important to remember how nightlife and club culture have been helpful in cultivating this sense of belonging for many of us. There’s something electric about stepping into a crowd of strangers, where the music pulses through the bodies, and the lights dance across the room casting a spectrum of colors everywhere.
And it's also special to share these moments with people we may never meet again. It’s a brief intimacy that feels profound—each connection is a reminder that we are part of something larger. As we dance, sweat, and lose ourselves in the music, we create an unspoken bond that lingers long after the night is over. It’s a feeling of safety, of acceptance, that we can’t always find elsewhere.
Beyond its good music, workshops, art installations, and performances, Whole Festival created a sanctuary for queer individuals. The festival is intentionally designed to be inclusive, prioritizing safety and mutual respect, enabling attendees to express themselves freely, being this rare space where queer people can authentically exist, regardless of how we choose to express our identities.
In essence, the festival highlighted the beauty that emerges when we come together to celebrate our differences. It released the spirit of liberation, inviting us to embrace who we are in all our singularities. As we left the festival, we carried with us not just memories, but a renewed sense of purpose—an understanding that our collective voices can pave the way for a world where we are celebrated and every individual is empowered to shine.
In the end, it was a beautiful reminder of what it means to be part of something bigger than ourselves.
