Decolonial Futures: Reframing Black Archives
PROJECT SUMMARY
Decolonial Futures: Reframing Black Archives is a research and development project exploring equitable ways for artists to engage with archives using Black British and Ghanaian lives as a case study. Working with grassroots archivists in Ghana, the project will develop a decolonial framework to challenge the colonial legacies in institutional collections, produce a new artist film, host a workshop in London and create a pamphlet outlining the framework.
Decolonial Futures: Reframing Black Archives is a research and development project exploring equitable ways for artists to engage with archives using Black British and Ghanaian lives as a case study. Working with grassroots archivists in Ghana, the project will develop a decolonial framework to challenge the colonial legacies in institutional collections, produce a new artist film, host a workshop in London and create a pamphlet outlining the framework.
SHORT FILM: A JOURNEY TO STILLNESS
‘A Journey To Stillness’ is short essayistic artist film explores migration through the memories of two Ghanaian migrants who moved to London during the 1980s–90s. The experience utilises collage animations, immersive soundscapes and archival footage to create snapshots highlighting the nuances of everyday life in Ghana and London. The project will unpack the socio-political environment of Ghana during it’s early years of independence with the transformation of Ghanaian highlife music during the 1950s to 1990s running as a parallel narrative; a commodity that was globally exported. This project aims to conceive a new approach to viewing and interacting with silenced histories with the view of reversing the stigma surrounding resettlement.
Please find the film treatment here.
PAMPHLET AND WORKSHOP REFERENCE
Produced by ANTI, the workshop will respond to the film by discussing anti-colonist ways of engaging with archive materials and developing equitable international partnerships; especially with organisations based in the Global South.
The pamphlet will highlight the framework by which the film was built on. It will also include research conducted prior to the making of the film.
Reference images for the pamphlet
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Past Works:
Childhood.Memories.00s (2022)
Moving image Installation
Childhood.Memories.00s (2022) is a collection of video complications, archival objects and interviews that recalls the joys and excitement of the Y2K era — held in a recreated tween bedroom installation. Not only were visitors transported back in time, this exhibition redefined what is considered an archive and widened the conversation around how the past can be preserved and engaged with. Held over 3 days at Metroland Studios in Kilburn London, the Y2K period was explored through a Black British lens.
Moving image Installation
Childhood.Memories.00s (2022) is a collection of video complications, archival objects and interviews that recalls the joys and excitement of the Y2K era — held in a recreated tween bedroom installation. Not only were visitors transported back in time, this exhibition redefined what is considered an archive and widened the conversation around how the past can be preserved and engaged with. Held over 3 days at Metroland Studios in Kilburn London, the Y2K period was explored through a Black British lens.
TO THOSE BEFORE ME (2020)
360° video
06:00mins
An immersive VR experience exploring the parallels between heritage and contemporary body movement; funded through commission by New Creatives, a national talent development scheme co-funded by BBC Arts and Arts Council England.
Drawing on traditions deriving from the Asante People of Ghana, To Those Before Me, is an immersive voyage exploring the diaspora through an improvised dance performance juxtaposed with mesmerising animations and an impactful soundtrack using 360 video technologies.
Ultimately, To Those Before Me, contributes to widening the multiplicity of history behind dance and music through providing an Asante perspective.
360° video
06:00mins
An immersive VR experience exploring the parallels between heritage and contemporary body movement; funded through commission by New Creatives, a national talent development scheme co-funded by BBC Arts and Arts Council England.
Drawing on traditions deriving from the Asante People of Ghana, To Those Before Me, is an immersive voyage exploring the diaspora through an improvised dance performance juxtaposed with mesmerising animations and an impactful soundtrack using 360 video technologies.
Ultimately, To Those Before Me, contributes to widening the multiplicity of history behind dance and music through providing an Asante perspective.
A SINGLE BRACELET DOES NOT JINGLE (2018)
Short Film
03:00mins
An experimental short film about the co-existence of two cultures within one identity; commissioned by Arts Council England and Channel 4’s Random Acts under the Stop, Play, Record initiative.
Short Film
03:00mins
An experimental short film about the co-existence of two cultures within one identity; commissioned by Arts Council England and Channel 4’s Random Acts under the Stop, Play, Record initiative.