In an unlikely art venue—a stall of a Chinatown shopping mall—Mexican American multidisciplinary artist Nao Bustamante has opened their solo exhibition, “Brown Disco,” with OCD Chinatown. The show is the latest in the rising star’s repertoire of experimental performances, films and installations. As is expected of their work, it is less about what the visitor sees and more about their experiences in the space.

Bustamante has transformed the gallery space with the addition of a massive brown disco ball in the center of the room, filling the entire space. This is the only work on view (as there really is no room for anything else)—a minimalist intervention that asks the viewer to fill in the conceptual gaps. As light bounces throughout the room, one is instantly reminded of nightlife, queer spaces and clubs. Originating from underground venues, Bustamante’s overall practice models the interdependence between nightlife and the larger arts world, and “Brown Disco” is no exception. In this sense, the shopping mall venue is a fitting space and mirrors the makeshift, counterculture quality of the artist’s practice.

The color of the disco ball references the theory of Brownness that Bustamante has utilized throughout their work. In this sense, Brownness is not just an ontological designation, but also a phenomenological experience. As this Brownness encapsulates the gallery, one is encouraged to completely immerse themselves in this community-centered space. Being the only feature in the room, apart from a single photograph of a disco ball placed on a metal wall, the effect—in the otherwise spare room—creates a warm and dynamic glow moving throughout the space.

While the social sculpture facilitates a fun and lighthearted experience, it also carries a second, deeper connotation. The work honors the victims of recent queer nightclub shootings in Colorado Springs and Orlando, by creating a safe and welcoming space.

It’s this sort of dichotomy that grounds Bustamante’s experimental practice. The celebration of queer and Brown culture, and a recognition of the ever-present threat on these identities go hand-in-hand.

Bustamante will activate the space through performances and parties throughout the run of the show, facilitating these experiences directly.

OCD Chinatown
75 E Broadway
New York, NY 10002
On view through June 24, 2023