BUTT WHOLE
From its Cruising Village to its douching station, poppers yoga workshops and “pink pussy VIP” lounge, Whole Festival has become a crazed barometer of queer culture in Europe. Plus, of course, a weekend of sick music at a charming East German strip mine-cum watering hole. Whole’s online forum, meanwhile, is famous for its no-filter horniness and raucous community infighting. We thought we’d ask a few people ourselves, ‘Hey babe, how's your Whole??’
Miss thing from London arrives fresh to the festival and makes a B-line to the beach.
HOW’S YOUR WHOLE?
It’s inspiring and liberating. And challenging, but in a good way.
WHY?
Well, two guys were fucking while I was doing my makeup behind the tents.
AND, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?
I have like, torn thoughts. I thought it was nice. But it was also like, men taking too much space and being like, ‘this is my place and I can do whatever I want, where I want’. Yeah. I wasn’t affected by it, but it could trigger people, you know? But then they helped me zip my clothes on afterwards, so I’m fine.
Casting director Conan models beside the ginormous Arena Stage.
HOW’S YOUR WHOLE?
Holistic.
Elijah is a very hung, pansexual sex worker from Berlin who hates V-Day.
My Whole is fucking fantastic. It is lush. It is coconut oiled. And it is exhausted from dancing so much. So much gratitude.
Reece and Thomas met in Philly. They’re not boyfriends.
Reece: Um, it’s easily the hottest festival I’ve ever been to. Like, the men are really hot. I’ve gotten my back absolutely blown out and it’s amazing. Honestly, it’s all the Spanish men. There is this group of Spanish men that are just like, truly obsessed with Thomas and me. We each have our own Spanish boyfriend.
HAVE YOU ALREADY PLANNED YOUR TRIP TO BARCELONA?
Thomas: Let’s be clear. It’s Madrid. The problem with Spanish men here at Whole is that they all want a boyfriend. They are dead serious. It’s giving a bouquet and a box of chocolates. It’s, ‘Where are you baby?’ (laughs) The tag on Instagram stories. The WhatsApp calls. I love it.
YOU’RE GETTING WHATSAPP CALLS?
Thomas: I’m getting missed calls from darkroom encounters. (laughs) But they’re from the hottest guy you’ve ever seen. And he’s somehow obsessed with me. Like, it’s amazing.
Giddy and Over-It from Tel Aviv size up their first Whole.
Over-It: I don’t like it. It’s too much. Too much for me.
Giddy: It’s heaven! It’s like utopia.
YOU REALLY THINK IT’S UTOPIA?
Giddy: I do.
Over-It: It’s a fine line between heaven and hell. One leg here, one leg there, and we’re in the middle. Taking it all.
Jule lives in Berlin and is getting into public sex.
My Whole is crazy. I fucked in the forest, but it’s like, normal to do that here. You see everyone fucking around. I think it’s so nice that people can be open with their sexuality.
Hagen, Berlin social worker who makes fisting porn, enjoys a quiet moment.
HOW’S YOUR WHOLE?
I haven’t had any complaints. I’ve been sleeping too little. I’m overcaffeinated. And I’m loving it. It’s my first time in twelve years at a festival and my first time at one sober. And my first queer festival! So I’m quite over the moon right now.
WHAT BROUGHT YOU HERE TO THE SOBER TENT?
I’ve been wanting to go to Whole for a long time now, but I’ve been hesitant because of my recovery. I had the possibility to get an artist pass because we do these recovery information workshops, so I totally jumped on that wagon. I’m 47. When I was young this didn’t exist. Being in a queer, open, fun, fabulous, liberated space like this is for me an opportunity to re-parent my younger self and heal from the past, from repression, bullying, secrecy…all the stress that comes with being a gay kid in the village.
WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE WEEKEND?
Snogging as much as possible, staying sober, having as much fun as possible.
Arewa Basit found her match on an all-bisexual reality dating show on MTV.
HOW’S YOUR WHOLE?
Simply superb. It’s been juicier, wetter, but also tighter. And righter. My Whole is right.
WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE WEEKEND?
Every hole’s a goal. And every goal’s a hole. And I intend to be the goal I want to see in the hole.
In the darkroom, friends Lali and Justin tie the knot.
Lali: We are Lali and Justin and we are deeply in love.
Justin: Deeply, deeply. I think our connection is something that transcends this plane. But more than that, it’s an example of friendship that’s really without pretense. We just got married!
CONGRATULATIONS! HOW’S YOUR WHOLE?
Justin: Happy. Newly wedded.
Lali: Fulfilled. And abundant.
WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE WEEKEND?
Lali: I’m not holding expectations. I’m just going with the flow.
Justin: That’s exactly what I love about you.
London peng Tolu Joanne is serious about her vitamins.
My Whole is absolutely amazing. Having the best time. Just like, got all the minerals, all the drinks.
THE MINERALS?
Yeah babes, I got the açai bowl, the protein, had a good sleep…well, not really. But whatever. Yeah, we out here, getting ready for a little frozen prosecco. Like, purr!
Joshua, an artist famous for slime-soaked performances, enters the Cruising Village.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE IN THE CRUISING VILLAGE?
I am in search of the ephemeral quality of interactions with nice humans. And big dicks.