Hey! It’s great to see you :) If this is your first dose of Unbranded Reflections maybe have a read of Chapter 1 here: https://unbrandedreflections.substack.com/p/reaching-out. For anyone returning welcome back and thank you for your continued support. Please read on for suggestions of new artistic journeys celebrating all things Black creativity.
VISIT
I first came across Toyin Ojih Odutola’s work sometime around 2013. Back then I still worked as a printmaker and was initially drawn to her graphic and borderline illustrative portraits because I thought they were etchings. I later came to learn that her medium of choice at that time was actually the humble biro - choice perhaps being a contentious word to use in this instance as she worked with these materials because she was not able to afford paints or canvasses.
Some 7 years later so much has changed; her work is collected by Solange Knowles, her first solo show in New York was a 4 month stint at the Whitney Museum of Art and she’s gone blue chip. One thing that has remained the same however is Ojih Odutola’s commitment to and celebration of drawing materials which she has the power to elevate to the same impactful status as oil paintings.
After much time fangirling over her work on Instagram I was so excited to finally be able to converse with it in the flesh. A Countervailing Theory is the artists first solo exhibition in the UK. Comprising of 40 oftentimes large scale drawings the multi-sensory experience is reminiscent of travelling through a graphic novel ominous soundtrack and all, courtesy of an atmospheric soundscape by Peter Adjaye. Acting as a storyboard unfurling along the full length of the 90m Curve Gallery wall at the Barbican it tells the tale of a fictional central Nigerian civilisation of male labourers ruled by an upper class of warrior women. Gender roles are challenged and colonial histories questioned whilst still allowing room for the visitor to construct their own interpretation of the narrative. The exhibition is free but ticketed and runs until 24th January.
READ
Started in 2019 to address the lack of consistent education surrounding Black British history in schools The Black Curriculum aims to redress the unbalanced historical narrative taught in our formative school years by delivering consultations, training and certifications equipping teachers with the tools needed to engage with diverse student bodies through education. Aside from that their 12 part programme teaches Black British history whilst remaining aligned with the national curriculum.
A few days ago TBC launched a new zine series for young people the first issue of which explores the history and culture of Notting Hill Carnival. I’m obsessed with the collage cover art by Jazz Grant but its pages include so many other beautiful gems including contributions from DJ and presenter Clara Amfo, survivor and Grenfell United committee member Zoe Dainton and Homecoming: Voices of a Windrush Generation author Colin Grant.
TBC wants to create a space that allows young people to engage with social change in a creative and innovative way. We believe that the zine will help improve social cohesion, bring people together, and to instil a rooted sense of identity, giving them the platform to play a genuine role in changing the British curriculum, so that it accurately and thoroughly depicts Black history.
N.B. The first and second releases sold out in less than 24 hours respectively but a third release should be dropping soon. Keep your eyes on The Black Curriculum IG for details and if you have the means make a donation while you wait.
SUPPORT
If you’ve spent significant time on social media in the last few days you may already be aware of the horrific hate crimes on 3 Trans women that took place in Hollywood this week. Violence against the Trans community is on the rise despite increased visibility and perceived mainstream acceptance of the Trans experience through tv shows like Pose. In the US the number of murders of Trans women has already surpassed figures for 2019 despite it only being August.
One initiative working to support struggling members of the Trans community stateside is The Okra Project. Donations allow their chefs to provide healthy home cooked and culturally specific meals to Trans people experiencing food insecurity.
They’ve recently partnered with fledgeling initiative Art For Black Lives which raises funds for The Okra Project through sales of print editions donated by a really incredible roster or early to mid-career artists.
My favourite is the above Tiffany Alfonesca piece titled I Hope my Blackness Offends You (tbh I would have bought it on the title alone). It’s already sold out but there are still some really great works available from the likes of Puppies Puppies and Margaret Rose Vendryes. If you consider yourself a collector the $300 price tag is quite a steal and an investment that’s fairly likely to appreciate in value over the next few years with the added bonus of supporting a fantastic cause.
Magda xxx