This interview is part of our ongoing series of conversations with activists and artists, aiming to spark change and build a nightlife that’s more accessible, inclusive, and welcoming to all bodies.

Hi Menko, welcome and thank you for taking the time. Could you give us a brief introduction of yourself?

I'm a disabled and queer visual artist based in Amsterdam. My art practice centers on disrupting normative narratives through a disability and queer lens. Rooted in lived experience, I use my art to reclaim visibility on radically transformative terms.

What does nightlife mean to you?

I think nightlife represents possibility, connection and visibility. It's a space where people can, and should, express themselves freely to experience queer and crip joy and community. This often feels liberating. However, nightlife also un-conceals who gets to belong and who remains on the margins. For many, including myself, nightlife holds both promise and exclusion. It can offer moments of celebration and belonger, but it also reflects the barriers that still exist. Whether these are physical, social or systemic: full participation isn't guaranteed for every-body. In that sense, nightlife becomes a reflection of society itself. It shows not only our desires for inclusion, but also the work that remains to make these desires a reality for all.

How can we create a new club culture so that all bodies feel welcome?

To me, club culture is an act of rebellion. Not just against oppressive systems, but against exclusion itself. Remember how club culture is rooted in marginalized communities who carved out space to exist freely and resist norms that denied our existence. I believe we need to center those who have been pushed aside, challenge ableism, racism, transphobia, fatphobia and all other forms of exclusion that are still common in these spaces. True inclusivity is not just an afterthought: it requires redesigning spaces, reimagining acces and redefining who belongs at the center. In doing so, I think club culture can once again become a radical space of collective liberation. What's more rebellious than that?

Since you visited our previous BODY edition. Why does a club night like BODY appeal to you?

From the beginning, I felt like BODY wanted to redefine what makes clubbing inclusive. Just welcoming queer people isn't enough: inclusion is not a fixed point. Instead, it's an ongoing process un-learning and decolonizing the mind, taking in the input of marginalised people, and adapting to evolve. I think BODY also recognizes that true inclusivity means addressing the intersecting barriers that many people face, and actively challenges the normative standards of who is 'allowed' to take up space on the dance floor. By doing so, I think BODY tries to create a community that understands inclusion as a radical and ever-evolving practice.

Thank you, Menko, for the lessons in rebellion! See you on our next edition at Club Raum, Friday 11th July 2025.