Presented as an immersive installation, LA-born filmmaker summer mason’s short essay film Gemini explores personal narratives through familial representations. Navigating the balancing act of femininity and masculinity, this exhibition interrogates the dissonances and continuities of one’s perception of themselves and the authentic self.

Filmed primarily in Oakland, CA, each scene presents an intimate portrait, reflecting a pivotal moment in mason’s personal relationships. mason pairs this imagery with a collage of audio from a myriad of films including This is Jimi Hendrix (1973), Dirty Dancing (1987), and Crooklyn (1994) as well as vocals from English punk band, X-Ray Spex.

Through Gemini, mason parallels the negotiated black masculinity of these cultural personas with their own reflection on the process of understanding their own queer identity as shaped by important figures in their life.