This day of programmes explores the themes of living archive, studio practice, and empowerment in A World in Common exhibition.
Artist Tayo Adekunle will be exploring theme of living archive by activating Ronan Mckenzie鈥檚 Common Grounds with a pop-up photography studio. You will be invited to have your portrait taken alone or with loved ones.
Collect a ticket for a self-empowerment workshop facilitated by Tolu Oshodi and explore how you take up space in the exhibition inspired by the room of Kings, Queens and Gods in the show.
Refreshments provided, no prior knowledge or experience necessary.
This event is for 黑料社 only. 16鈥25? Sign up here.
Activation One: Portraits by Tayo Adekunle
Location: Common Ground, Blavatnik Building, Level 2
Time: 13.00鈥17.00
Drop-in
The Family Portraits section of A World in Common explores the studio culture that appeared in African countries as they gained independence from colonial rule. The photographs from this time allowed the sitters to present themselves as they wanted and take agency over the way they were represented in the photographs, countering the othering of ethnographic photography in the past. Studio portraits played a vital role in challenging the colonial view of African people and allowing stereotypes to be opposed.
Inspired by photographers such as Seydou Ke茂ta - who celebrated the richness of the people they photographed - and Atong Atem who pay tribute to the studio culture, we are creating our own studio space for people to come and have their own family portraits taken with their chosen family. We invite people to be photographed by themselves or with their loved ones, celebrating themselves, their presentation and their community.
Activation Two: Workshop by Tolu Oshodi
Location: A World in Common, Blavatnik Building, Level 2
Time: 18.30鈥20.00
Free with ticket: Collect from the Level 0 ticket desk on a first-come first-served basis
Tolu Oshodi AKA Honey Revlon has been a member of the UK Ballroom Community since 2017, where she is a prominent figure for walking the category 鈥楽ex Siren鈥. Through walking this category she has learned to embrace it as a strong tool for reclaiming sexual power and agency. She develops workshops to help others explore the concept of sensuality and critically engage in how sexual politics affect people intersectionality, highlighting why ballroom is often an extension of lived experience for queer people of colour.
In response to the theme Kings, Queens and Gods, this activation will focus on honing and celebrating our personal power. You will be led through guided meditations and a range of playful exercises to use as tools aiding in self assurance of your identity. 鈥淣o one is you, and that is your power鈥.
Please wear clothes that you can move comfortably in. The workshop will explore themes of intimacy feel free to sit out at any point and please ask for consent when interacting physically with each other