These digital paintings make use of 3D modeling technologies and layering techniques to remember, reimagine, and (re)narrativize the queer histories surrounding the Temple of Friendship. Situated at 20 rue Jacob in Paris, France, this temple is located at the former residence of Natalie Clifford Barney (1876 – 1972), a lesbian author and salon hostess. The temple still stands today but is inaccessible to the public. The ephemerality of salon culture and queer spaces highlights the challenges of documenting and preserving queer history, and underscores the importance of creative approaches, such as speculative 3D modeling, to address the erasures of queer histories. Speculation involves using creative practices to fill in gaps in the historical record and to envision queer futures.
