Jupiter Artland’s secluded sculpture park was once again transformed into a hub of living art-performance that brought an unmoving landscape to life, co-curated by Glasgow queer workers’ co-operative Bonjour and artist Lindsey Mendick. An unwelcome odour of raw meat drifted around the park’s main courtyard as our opening artist performed to inquisitive (and apprehensive) partygoers.

Disguised as pigs, sporting silicone masks and pink latex thigh-highs, Mendick and her menacing minions embarked on a grimace-inducing sausage-making mission. Clearly not experienced butchers, our three little piggies suffered some comical hiccups as they worked their meat-grinding machinery. After perhaps a while too long fenced inside their muddy pigpen, Mendick commanded the crowd to eat her pound of flesh, now grilled and stuffed into bread buns. Only a handful of brave spectators obliged as this paradoxical opening art piece made its intended impact. Mendick’s solo exhibition SH*TFACED was also open to viewers. Her haunting clay creations casts a concerning spotlight on club culture and will be available to view until 1 October.

Following Mendick’s unorthodox Animal Farm ballet came a series of vastly varied performances ranging from neuro-queer clownery to cowboy country music. An absurdly funny ode to slugs from An(dre)a Spisto and Joana Nastari left their audience confused, entertained and, in some cases, covered in slime. The contemporary piece took us from a place of puzzled uncertainty to unironic investment in the habits of their cartoonish mucus-coated characters.

Genderqueer cowboy duo Pink Suits were an expert pick from the event organisers, who certainly know their demographic. Despite a few minor flaws in their musicianship, the duo was the perfect crowd-pleaser. Next came a few drinks under the decorated archways of the ‘Boob Bar’, draped with hundreds of hand-made breast-shaped plushies. An astounding Björk-style synth-pop set from Ziah Ziah and karaoke fronted by Jupiter Rising favourite Sgàire Woods led us into the dance-techno portion of the party. Bonjour then hosted an array of DJs and dancers that ensured energy levels remained through the roof until last orders. 

A few organisational errors may have slightly stunted the event’s free-flowing atmosphere. This one-nighter was formerly a weekend-long mini-festival and the last-minute cancellation of a much-anticipated talk from Lena Dunham may have slightly rained on this big blow-out Pride parade. However, Jupiter Rising included an expertly curated line-up of alternative artists from across the community. They delivered a welcome escape from the city that had an unapologetic theme of queer joy at its core. 

Jupiter Rising reviewed at Jupiter Artland as part of Edinburgh Art Festival.