Joy Boy pays tribute to the African American composer, musician, performer, and activist Julius Eastman (1940–1990). Eastman, originally a classically trained pianist, joined the experimental music movement in New York in the late 1970s, where he collaborated with influential artists such as Meredith Monk and Pauline Oliveros.

Eastman’s music, which he himself described as ‘organic’, was known for its gradual construction: Each composition developed slowly by adding new notes and rhythms. Compositions with provocative titles such as Evil N***** and Gay Guerrilla were not only musical explorations but also reflected his uncompromising activism and political convictions. As a Black queer man, these works were attempts to create a future in which he could reclaim the dignity that had been denied to him. Sadly, Eastman died in dire circumstances in 1990, which cast a shadow over his legacy.

Joy Boy was originally developed by Collectif Faire-Part—a collective of Belgian and Congolese filmmakers—in collaboration with artists Victoire Karera Kampire, Fallon Mayanja, and Mawena Yehouessi as the visual concept for a live performance by the S.E.M. Ensemble, commissioned by De Singel. In NW, it has evolved into a self-contained, multidimensional installation spread across three spaces. Joy Boy combines visual, sonic, and choreographic interpretations, inspired by conversations between the artists and their personal connections to Eastman. The exhibition highlights the impact of Eastman’s minimalist music as a powerful tool for political change and rehabilitation.