Arnolfini: 1961 - 2021: Coming celebrations!

 

Bristol’s International Centre for Contemporary Arts est. 1961 The Restless Image: a discrepancy between the seen position and the felt position 1975 Rose Finn-Kelcey © courtesy the Estate of Rose Finn-Kelcey and The Hyman Collection part of A Picture of Health | Women Photographers from The Hyman Collection at Arnolfini Welcome back to Arnolfini in 2021 - even if it is not yet in the circumstances that we would all have wanted. Arnolfini is 60 years old in 2021 and we will share our programme plans to celebrate in the coming weeks and months as conditions allow. This year we will also continue to amplify, share and develop our partnership with UWE, Bristol through many joint projects and creative ideas. As current Director of Arnolfini it’s a huge privilege to be custodian of this extraordinary 60 year history of cultural activity and we let it guide our continued determination to bring culture and art to the city, the south west and its many communities in as many ways as we can. This year we will continue to extend our programme of major exhibitions with artists Frank Bowling and Stephen Gill, further grow our range of community based programmes, welcome the work of many partner organisations and artists and open new spaces and new initiatives to extend our programming. In 2020 our exhibitions, events and online presentations were experienced by tens of thousands of people, despite the restrictions of the pandemic, and we opened our doors at every possible opportunity to make sure as many people could visit in person as feasible. Behind the scenes we have adapted to the changes, building many new projects and partnerships, and we are excited and ready to share these as soon as we are able. We look forward to working for you - our audiences, friends and partners - in 2021 to continue to bring great contemporary art to Bristol and the region and to our online platforms. Thank you all for your invaluable, ongoing support and we hope to see you soon. Gary Topp, Executive Director, Arnolfini JO SPENCE AND A PICTURE OF HEALTH We have extended the run of both Jo Spence: From Fairy Tales to Phototherapy | Photographs from The Hyman Collection and A Picture of Health | Women Photographers from The Hyman Collection until end May 2021 in the hope that we may be able to welcome you back into Arnolfini in person in future months. In the meantime, get a feel of both exhibitions with a filmic walkthrough, details below. Cinderella Panels Jo Spence 1984  In collaboration with Rosy Martin. © The Jo Spence Memorial Archive, Ryerson Image Centre, Toronto, Canada   Jo Spence: From Fairy Tales to Phototherapy | Photographs from The Hyman Collection is a major retrospective of the work of photographer Jo Spence, drawn from one of the most comprehensive collections of her work in the world. From Fairy Tales to Phototherapy focuses on the intersection between arts, health and wellbeing, celebrating Spence’s work as a photo therapist in which she used photography as a medium to address personal trauma, reflecting on key moments in her past.  until  end May 2021 I Was Never Good at Yoga, Exercise Balls 2015 Polly Penrose © courtesy of  the artist and The Hyman Collection,   A Picture of Health | Women Photographers from The Hyman Collection draws together major works from Heather Agyepong, Sonia Boyce, Eliza Hatch, Susan Hiller, Rose Finn-Kelcey, Anna Fox, Rosy Martin (in collaboration with Verity Welstead), Polly Penrose, Jo Spence, and Paloma Tendero. The exhibition aims to de-stigmatise subjects around mental health and create an environment in which people can have open conversations about their wellbeing, whilst including the voices of local people with lived experiences of mental health.  until end May 2021 Our friends at The Hyman Collection, who generously loaned us the works for Jo Spence and A Picture of Health, are planning for both shows to be available as touring exhibitions. Keep an eye here and on our socials for details as they become available. With thanks for their support to and sponsor of A Picture of Health, SPRING / SUMMER AT ARNOLFINI Looking forward to hopefully less challenging and sunnier times, Arnolfini are thrilled to bring you two of the finest artists in their respective disciplines. FRANK BOWLING As Above So Below, Frank Bowling, 2020, acrylic on canvas. Courtesy of Sir Frank Bowling Kt OBE RA and Hauser & Wirth (c) Sir Frank Bowling. All Rights Reserved, DACS 2020 Arnolfini are delighted to invite audiences to a major exhibition with pioneering painter Sir Frank Bowling, OBE RA. The exhibition will feature new and recent work, as Frank continues his exploration and experimentation with the painted surface that has marked his extraordinary career. The exhibition follows Bowling’s recent signing with Hauser & Wirth who will stage their first exhibition of Bowling’s work at the New York gallery in April 2021 and London gallery in May 2021. The Arnolfini exhibition will be Bowling’s first museum exhibition since his widely applauded and long overdue retrospective at Tate Britain in 2019 which cemented his reputation as a ‘modern master’. 3 July to 26 September 2021 STEPHEN GILL image: From The Pillar 2015 - 2019 © Stephen Gill  In a year of anniversaries at Arnolfini, we will be celebrating over thirty years of extraordinary practice from Bristol-born photographer Stephen Gill, drawing together new previously un-exhibited work, alongside works from other iconic series including Hackney Flowers, Buried, Talking to Ants, Night Procession, Pigeons, Coexistence and Coming up for Air. Also featuring the first UK presentation of images from award winning photographic series and book The Pillar, the exhibition will explore Gill’s rich sense of place, leading us through the flea markets and towpaths of Hackney Wick in London, to his current rural surroundings amidst the Swedish countryside. 16 October 2021 to 16 January 2022 ARNOLFINI'S 60TH image: centre Jeremy Rees, Founder of Arnolfini 1937-2003 In March 1961 co-founders Jeremy and Annabel Rees realised their pioneering ambition to bring contemporary art to Bristol and open the first Arnolfini gallery above a small bookshop in Clifton. Throughout its 60 year history Arnolfini’s programme has welcomed tens of thousands of artists, from a wide variety of cultures and backgrounds, supporting and developing their work, investigating their influences and aspirations, to share their creations to tens of millions of people here in Bristol. Our 2021 anniversary programme will feature artists including Peter Blake, Keith Piper, Sutapa Biswas, Ian Breakwell, and David Nash, presented in a range of different formats, with the involvement of a range of different collaborators. Sam Francis will present an online residency, focusing on Somerset – A Year in the Life of a Field, by Westcountry artist Lizzie Cox Seminal performance artist Bobby Baker, whose work explores and celebrates everyday life, and promotes gender equality, will deliver an online performance. We will also launch a new publication by Writer In Residence, Melissa Chemam, reflecting on the histories of African and African Diaspora artists at Arnolfini, as well as join with our long-term partners In Between Time who celebrate their 20th anniversary in 2021. More details to follow soon. Meantime, if you would like to explore Arnolfini’s History and Archive, please head to Arnolfini | History and Archive. We would love to hear your memories of Arnolfini, please get in touch at archive@arnolfini.org.uk. ARNOLFINI ONLINE images: Lisa Whiting for Arnolfini Arnolfini are proud to be collaborating with Rising Arts Agency, a community of young creatives aged 16 – 30 at all stages of their careers. Rising’s Young Creative, Manoel Akure’s walkthrough films for A Picture of Health | Women Photographers from The Hyman Collection as well as Jo Spence: From Fairy Tales to Phototherapy | Photographs from The Hyman Collection are available to view from the link below. For more of Manoel’s work, please visit www.blouhaus.com VIEW HERE ART IN THE CITY ONLINE Following an enthusiastic response, we have extended the availability of Heather Agyepong's Art in the City, part of a series of international artist’s talks co-presented by Fine Art UWE Bristol and Arnolfini at the end of last year. image: Too Many Blackamoors (#2), 2015, Heather Agyepong. (Courtesy of the artist-Autograph ABP)   Join Heather Agyepong, visual artist, performer/actor and maker whose work is included in A Picture of Health | Women Photographers from the Hyman Collection, in conversation with Arnolfini's Engagement Producer, Keiko Higashi below.  until end May 2021 VIEW HERE LET'S MAKE ART / THE BIG DRAW Bristol arts duo, Let’s Make Art, guide children in making a standing cardboard portrait of themselves with an interior scene as well as an outward showing persona.  until end May 2021 As part of The Big Draw campaign, UWE drawing and print students designed a range of free creative activities inspired by our current exhibitions, A Picture of Health and Jo Spence: From Fairy Tales to Phototherapy.  until end May 2021 VIEW HERE SUPPORT ARNOLFINI image: Let's Make Art In what is a challenging time for everyone, lockdowns and restrictions on capacity in the Galleries, Bookshop and Cafe Bar have led to a much reduced income for Arnolfini as a charity.  If you're able to make a donation - any amount is much appreciated - please go to www.justgiving.com/arnolfini or via the link below. Your support helps us continue to welcome everyone to our community, to explore culture and connect through contemporary art. Thank you. DONATE NOW ARNOLFINI BOOKSHOP Arnolfini Bookshop remains open online offering some great reads in the shape of art and culture books, periodicals and magazines, as well as an eclectic choice of fiction, delightful children's books, original gifts and greetings cards. We're also happy to try and source titles not listed online and relish the challenge of seeking out more obscure titles. Drop us a line at bookshop@arnolfini.org.uk  And, while you're here, many thanks to all of you who did your festive shopping with us last month and continue to support your local, independent Bookshop. Copyright © 2021 Arnolfini, All rights reserved. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list To find out more about how we use and store data, please see our privacy policy

January 21: My Special Day

 

January 21 was my father’s birthday. 

Just so close to mine. 

I always wonder who thinks of him apart from my mum and I. 

He left the earth almost on the same day in 2009. And since, January 21 has become like my own birthday. He hoped I would wait to get born on that day, my mum told me. But of course, I’m stubborn 😂 

And Aquarius season begins on that day. 

It’s supposed to be symbolic of novelty and revolution. 

Anyway, it’s just my special day...

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Song of the moment: 

'Supersymmetry'

Arcade Fire

I know you're living in my mind
But it's not the same as being alive
I know you're living in my mind
But it's not the same as being alive

Supersymmetry
Supersymmetry

If telling the truth is not polite
Then I guess we'll have to fight
If telling the truth is not polite
Then I guess we'll have to fight

Supersymmetry
Supersymmetry
Supersymmetry
Supersymmetry

Lived for a year in a bed by the window
Reading books better than memories
Wanna feel the seasons passing
Wanna feel the spring

Of Supersmmetry
Of Supersymmetry
Supersymmetry
Supersmmetry

It's been a while since I've been to see you
Don't know where but you're not with me
Heard a voice like an echo
But it came from me

Ah la la la la la
Ah la la la la la
Ah la la la la la
Ah la la la la la

Supersymmetry

Uganda Decides

NB. To Bristolians: I'll be on Ujima Radio 98fm on Monday morning (18/01/21) around 8/9am to talk about Uganda and the recent election, with he lovely Pommy Harmar.

Tune in!

https://www.ujimaradio.com/

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Voting in the time of Corona... 

Today, I'm thinking of my ex-colleagues in East African especially the BBC team, on this day of a very symbolic election in Uganda.

I went to report there on the Museveni-Besigye election in January 2011, when based in Nairobi, eye-opening work. Just before I started this blog.

A photo from my old blog:

Source: http://bbcafriquekenya.blogspot.com/2011/02/reportage-elections-en-ouganda-2011.html

From today, here is a report from the BBC Africa team:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-africa-55661762

This year, the main opposition leader is a musician and popular singer known as Bobi Wine, 36 years old. He's trying to beat the current president, Yoweri Museveni, in power since 1986.

"Through his music, you could clearly see that he understood the social issues that young people were facing, especially young people from the ghetto," singer and politician Bobi Wine said. 

Yet, the internet has been cut off as voters cast their ballots in a hotly contested election.

Will the vote be free & fair? 

The whole continent is watching…

What do humanitarian crises mean in a world where people would rather just play games?

 

January 13. Here we go, a new report sheds light on an issue I've had on the back of my mind for years... Ever since I started studying journalism.

Yesterday (Tuesday 12), the NGO Care International published a report showing that the launch of PlayStation 5 gaming platform received 26 times more news attention than 10 humanitarian crises combined in 2020.

 

Having worked on crisis response for so many years, in the news or as a communication person for NGOs/UN organisations, over the years, most of the time, I couldn't get even my best friends to pay attention to humanitarian crises. This "turning-a-blind-eye" attitude can now be measured... 

https://insights.careinternational.org.uk/media/k2/attachments/CARE_10-most-underreported-humanitarian-crises-2020.pdf

 

The Charity Care International says the media is failing countries by underreporting humanitarian emergencies, with women suffering most. And how could we disagree? 

 

The humanitarian crises include violence in Guatemala, hunger in Madagascar and natural disasters in Papua New Guinea. They were all largely swept aside by news of Covid-19, global Black Lives Matter protests and the US election of course. More clickbait-friendly events such as the Eurovision song contest and Kanye West’s bid for the US presidency received 10 times more online news attention than the humanitarian crises in question, according to the report.

 

In November, I wrote an opinion piece on the dominance of the United States in the news:

https://westenglandbylines.co.uk/the-british-press-is-obsessed-with-the-american-elections/  

A nation that this week has proved could not be taken as a world leader or an example for democracy worldwide. So when will journalists finally accept to reform their priorities and finally open up to the rest of the world? 

 

In 2019, after my book on Bristol’s culture and rebel spirit came out, I started drafting an essay to highlight a few key points on these issues, having worked in world news since 2005, for different broadcasters including the BBC World Service in Africa. 

 

But, not to my surprise, most publishers and agents I got in touch with declined even considering supporting my work let alone publishing it. Now that I teach journalism at the University of the West of England, I want to try again to open that discussion. I want my students to know about the Ugandan election of tomorrow (Thursday 14 January): https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-55573581

 

I want them to at least to hear about it, or just to get to know the country exists… While they have heard about the US election all day every day for months, including via the British press. 

 

Through my work, I try to highlight how the relations between the Western World and the rest of the world are evolving. Over the years, I have been based in London, Paris, Prague, Miami, Nairobi and Central Africa, mostly as a freelance journalist, paying for most of my travels. I managed to go to Haiti, South Africa, Uganda, Turkey, Iraq. All to report on under-reported stories. I worked with a filmmaker on a project on colonial history, and its consequences in our days (details here: https://deadline.com/2020/02/raoul-peck-exterminate-all-the-brutes-josh-hartnett-hbo-1202862295/). I write about African, European, Middle Eastern and Caribbean Artists. I still follow African elections from England. 

 

Now that travels have become dangerous if not banned, I’m gathering a collection of lessons in journalism and in politics that I learned by being a reporter for 15 years over four continents.

 

Can our media change? Well, they will have to! The media are the reflectors of world events that people use to connect with different places and people, and to make decisions as citizens. In a world every day more global it is sick to continue to deny over 200 countries any form of media attention at all. 

 

'England'

 

These are weird times.

Here is my song of the day...

This album means SO MUCH to me. It's pure talent. 

But mostly, it encapsulates a lots of emotions that came to me at the time of its release, when I left England for Kenya and had such a complicated relation to my country of birth... 

It does resonate really strongly this year! post Brexit...

PJ Harvey - England

from the album Let England Shake, Mercury Prize 2011

Lyrics:

I live and die through England
Through England
It leaves a sadness
Remedies never were within my reach
I cannot go on as I am
Withered vine reaching from the country
That I love
England
You leave a taste
A bitter one
I have searched for your springs
But people, they stagnate with time
Like water, like air
To you, England, I cling
Undaunted, never failing love for you
England

Winter News // Letter: Welcome, 21!

Dear friends and art lovers,

I hope this email finds you well! What a year we've had...

I had planned to entitle my last newsletter of the year: "From Paris with Love!"...

Well, this couldn't happen, and - as most people this year - I had to end 2020 where my Covid experience started... 

As I can't stand feeling defeated, let's focus on prospects and promises; we'll rise again, I'm sure. 

So for now, best wishes for the new year to you all. Hope it'll be kind enough and will help us build a better world. 

I also want to thank all of you for your support, friendship or creativity and inspirational spirit! 

This newsletter is not only about my work or my writing, this is about trying to create a community of ideas and support. I hope my words, as free as they are, are somehow helpful in this matter.  

 

Many thanks!

melissa 

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New Books: 'African' Art at Arnolfini & Bristol Reggae

My main book project for 2021 is the result of my writing residency at the Arnolfini, and will come out here in Bristol in early March. All details here. 

We're planning an event for early March 2021, hopefully in person at the gallery.

To get to know more, check Arnolfini's website.

In the meantime, my chapter about Bristol reggae is now published in a new book by Palgrave Macmillan just out this month of December 2020: 

Narratives from Beyond the UK Reggae Bassline 

See here: Palgrave Macmillan

It's been a long process, happy it's out! 

I'm now working on the next project: more on this in 2021, hopefully.

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MORE ON ART & MUSIC

In the meantime, here are some of my recent articles about creativity:

Tolu Agbelusi: On Locating Strongwoman - A Collection Of Poems

Why is Arabic Provoking such Controversy in France? — The Markaz Review

'Daydreaming' - 30 Years On - in the Reader's Digest

'‘We Want the Ability, Space & Time to Retell Our Own History’' - on Black History Month in Britain for Byline Times 

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PODCAST... Last episode of the year

Meanwhile, our Podcast, The Quarantini, has reached 28 episodes!

Episode 28: A Quarantini... 

with Music Journalist Marjorie Hache

Plus: A Bonus Episode in French!

Check our website in a few days.

And will continue into 2021... 

There will be more good news, more great interviews, once or twice a month. And you can still listen to all previous episodes here: The Quarantini

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Thank you very much for your interest and support.

It's all hard work and passion, that is what keeps us going.

  

Wishing you all the best for this beginning of the year. 

Send some news if you have a moment!

With warm regards,

melissa 

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Melissa Chemam

Writer, Cultural Journalist, Reporter

Writer-in-residence @ Arnolfini Gallery

Lecturer in journalism @ UWE Bristol

 

21!

 

There we are, past the threshold of a new year. 

Best wishes to you all! 

I don't want to be too optimistic but 21 has been my lucky number for quite some time... It comes to me in the lucky places, as a calling or a reminder of happier times, as a sign some force is watching over me... It's hard to explain. But it resonates with, let's put it this way.

-

I haven't written much here in December, it was a terribly tiring month my end, up until the 20th, when the border between the United (or more, like, dis-uniting?) Kingdom and France was closed. I had to cancel my plans to travel "home", if it is ever a home to me ever, not that I feel this way... 

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Since the 21st of December, day of the Winter Solstice, a pause has begun. And I still live in this bubble of alone time, completed through walks with friends, filled with books and films about books!

The latest have involved some stories from Jane Austen, Charles Dickens and the Brontë Sisters, books by Elif Shafak and Don Miguel Ruiz.

Here is one:

Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society: 

The story a London writer who survived WWII, unlike her parents, and becomes obsessed with a new stories when she starts corresponding with a man from the island of Guernsey. Despite the success of her recent release, she decides to write about the island's secret Book Club formed during the occupation of Guernsey by the Nazis.

Trailer: 

Anecdote: the harbour scenes have been filmed in Bristol, "my" city...

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Another great story about how books change outlives:

The Invisible Woman

Ralph Feinnes was the director and star of The Invisible Woman, with Felicity Jones as a co-star.

Here they tell The Guardian how Charles Dickens's affair with Ellen Ternan inspired the writing -€“ and why they don't view this relationship, between an older man and a teenager, as predatory:

It was "infatuation that became a huge love", Fiennes explained, despite the age and power imbalance. A love that totally transformed both of the characters and most probably inspired Dickens' strength and understanding for the writing of his novel Great Expectations. 

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Thanks for these comforting stories.

TBC...