www.thebodynarratives.com www.facebook.com/TheBodyNarratives www.twitter.com/body_narratives www.adifferentmirror.thebodynarratives.com
INTRODUCTION HANA RIAZ In the summer of last year, my beautiful Nepali twin-nieces, who were five at the time, sat with me in our garden enjoying the warm and easy sun. One of them began to talk about wanting white skin and blonde hair, and what she would do if she had it. Whilst her twin sister disagreed, responding fervently that she liked her brown skin and her black hair, I needed to know what exactly had triggered the other’s denigrated thinking. Her answers, however, were unsurprising – a consequence of not only the (gendered) shadeism (and anti-blackness) that holds dominance in Asian communities but her experiences as a brown girl in a white supremacist society. Upon my questioning, she responded with a resolute but strangely logical answer:
“But everybody on TV is white and all the nice people are blonde. Nobody wants to be brown.” There was nowhere she could really see herself. I found it jarring that two girls as young as that had already begun to negotiate their identities, profoundly aware and conscious of their place in the world. It spoke volumes about the bounded relationship between representation, identity and belonging in a country where we are constantly asked to define ourselves. In a perfect world, our bodies would be ours– they would always command presence through being adorned, celebrated and most importantly loved. For most women, this is an ideal that is a far off reality and statistics affirm this. Instead it is one where we are daily objectified, policed and silenced; who we are determined by what we look like. Our bodies therefore rarely offer us a space we feel comfortable or even safe in. A Different Mirror is a response to this. It celebrates the work of Women of Colour artists unafraid to confront these painful questions; they takes us on a voyage where the body starts as aesthetic and becomes something akin to a vehicle of being and existing in the world. It asks us to be vulnerable, bold, and brave together, to create and express. Most importantly it asks us to speak, listen and be heard. At a time of political and economic austerity Women of Colour remain disproportionately effected by inequality and injustice. I hope the exhibition and educational activities offers some respite, a space for collective healing and empowerment as we reflect on who we are and the world around us. At the heart of this project is a journey, one that shifts towards seeing ourselves as whole and full beings belonging to one another, our bodies as holding potential and possibility when we feel they are our own.
3
a different mirror “THERE IS POWER IN LOOKING” – BELL HOOKS Socially constructed ideas about race and gender remain key in how Women of Colour perceive themselves. Patterns of images used by media, culture and society constantly tell us what we should look like and who we should be. They produce a literal and symbolic gaze outside of the self in order to render these bodies into objects to be looked at. The importance of the gaze then is that it allows dominant groups the power to control how Women of Colour interact with social spaces, other people, and crucially with themselves. The ‘gaze’, however, is never totalizing and looking can offer an important space of critical resistance. Using film, visual art, dance and poetry, A Different Mirror provides a platform for Women of Colour artists to explore the conflicts about how we see ourselves versus how we are seen. The project confronts these crucial questions about the systems or structures that shape our relationship to our bodies and its connection to our identities. It holds up a mirror to see and know ourselves differently. Featuring works by : Indigo Williams, Lesley Asare, Sanaa Hamid, Nasreen Raja, Sarina Leah Mantle, Wasma Mansour, Uchenna Dance, Patricia Kaersenhout, and Ng’endo Mukii, Aowen Jin, Janine ‘j*9’ Francois, Clare Eluka, and Emerzy Corbin. Funded by the Arts Council and National Lottery, this project will be delivering workshops with local schools and Lambeth, and hosting a series of educational activities such as an Artist Seminar and Women’s Circle. It will also offer us an important opportunity to collect and collate ethnicity specific data to produce a report on body image and self esteem.
www.adifferentmirror.thebodynarratives.com
4
ABOUT THE BODY NARRATIVES The Body Narratives is a web project founded by writer Hana Riaz. It aims to curate and document all the ways in which Women of Colour navigate, understand and own their bodies and their embodied experiences. In collecting a diverse range of Women of Colour’s voices across race, class, ethnicity, sexuality, geographic location, able-bodiedness and gender identities, the project seeks to uncover how our bodies belong to ourselves.
THE EXHIBITION AIMS TO Support Women of Colour artists through exhibiting their work using a topical platform Encourage dialogue using art as a safe space/creative medium to discuss body image, body positivity and wellbeing Create educational activities that are accessible to BME women aged 14 – 35 : to participate and engage Encourage learning skills for creative and personal development through an Artist Seminar and Women’s circle Encourage art as a tool for healing and empowerment
5
diy animation tutorial OOMK ZINE http://youtu.be/Nh2HBYvl78c
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
1. Make a rough storyboard 2. Gather materials and equipment 3. Cut out puppets and props 4. Get the animation set ready
5. Set up video and tripod to capture footage 6. Edit video
6
artist feature AOWEN JIN My name is Aowen Jin. I am a Chinese-born artist and a social commentator. I believe art has the power to inspire, bring people together and to communicate ideas. I believe that ordinary people’s stories need to be told. Their views about our societies are equally important to the views we hear everyday in the media. What do you hope to achieve? My biggest dream is to create art that I am passionate about. I realise that there is a social value in my art, and I want to release that. I want to be an artist who’s not just inward looking but who reveals insights into other people, societies and cultures. What is the message you want to leave with your work? That art has a greater purpose, and artists have a responsibility to help society break down class and social boundaries. Why do you do what you do/what drives you? My complete devotion to my art; my belief that there are important messages that need to be told through my art; and my gratitude for being able to connect people through my art. How did you go about starting your recent project? Research. I did two years worth of surveys; I lived amongst the factory girls themselves, and talked to academics to understand the social context. The more I discussed my project with people, the better I understood my audience and the goals of my project. What was the hardest thing you’ve faced in this journey? My biggest fear is always not being able to help when I feel there is social injustice. I think that’s the reason I am absolutely determined to work on my projects no matter what. I can use art to expose these issues and use my art as the means to act on them. What advice would you give someone looking to pursue their dream? Never, never give up. Be kind, listen and learn from people around you. Be grateful for the opportunity to be yourself and to pursue your dreams. What does beauty mean to you/what makes you beautiful? We all grow old physically, but you can always keep your heart young and exciting by changing with time. Never fear change, always look to improve your knowledge, your confidence and your personality. These things will make you shine. When you shine, you will be beautiful. 7
artist profiles LESLEY ASARE
PATRICIA KAERSENHOUT
Textile & Visual Artist ‘Secrets Women Keep’ Poetry and Visual Art Workshop www.ideastap.com/People/lesleyasare
Visual Artist S(K)IN (Short film) www.pkaersenhout.com
INDIGO WILLIAMS
Director/Animator/Editor ‘Yellow Fever’: Animation Short www.thenge.com
NG’ENDO MUKII
Poet ‘Secrets Women Keep’ Poetry and Visual Art Workshop www.indigowilliamspoetry.com
AOWEN JIN Visual Artist Factory Girl Series www.jinaowen.com
SANAA HAMID Photographer ‘My Body Is Not Your Battle Ground’ www.sanaahamid.com
JANINE ‘J*9’ FRANCOIS Visual Artist & Performer ‘Exotic Fruits’ Series www.reintroducingoshun.tumblr.com
NASREEN RAJA Textile Designer & Illustrator ‘Niqaab’ Textile Series www.nasreenraja.tumblr.com
CLARE ELUKA Body Paint Artist ‘Exotic Fruits’ Series www.ladyclareeluka.com
SARINA LEAH MANTLE Designer ‘Wildsuga’ Design Series www.wildsuga.com
EMERZY CORBIN
WASMA MANSOUR
Photography ‘Exotic Fruits’ Series www.emerzycorbin.com
Photographer ‘Single Saudi Women’ Photo Series www.wmansour.com
UCHENNA DANCE COMPANY Urban, Contemporary Dance Collective ‘What Is Woman?’ Dance Piece www.uchennadance.co.uk 8
TRUE OR FALSE 1. Over 75% of women are unhappy with their bodies. 2. Indian women are the world’s largest consumers of skin-lightening creams. 3. Under 12’s rarely experience pressure or fear about their weight. 4. The sudden surge in the rate of eating disorders in Fiji was a result of inter-cultural body shaming and pressure. 5. South Asian women in Britain are the least happy with their bodies.
1. FALSE Approximately 91% of women are unhappy with their bodies and resort to dieting to achieve their ideal body shape. Unfortunately, only 5% of women naturally possess the body type often portrayed in Western media. 2. FALSE The World Health Organisation (WHO) claims that Nigeria is the highest consumer of skin-lightening creams, with 77% of the female population using these products. 6065% of women in India also use skin-lightening products. 3. FALSE 81% of ten-year-old girls experience a fear of being fat. 4. FALSE The rate of eating disorders in Fiji surged dramatically following the introduction of Western television programming and the global pressure to have a ‘Western’ body. 5. TRUE Studies have found that South Asian women in Britain have been found to express more body dissatisfaction than Hispanic, Afro-Caribbean, and White British women.
9
MEET THE TEAM HANA RIAZ Founder and Curator: Hana Riaz is the founder, curator and editor for The Body Narratives. She is a queer politically black South Asian Muslim woman and feminist, a writer, blogger and believer in the transformatory power of love. She remains committed to documenting and preserving British Women of Colour’s narratives through art, activism and academia. Hana has written for The Guardian, Ceasefire Magazine, and Feminist Wire amongst others. Her first short story ‘Diaspora’ was published last year in As/ Us Journal.
GRACE OKEREKE Exhibition Coordinator:
Grace Okereke has 10 years of experience as an arts manager. She has worked for organisations such as East London Dance and Greenwich Dance where she managed and oversaw artistic programmes, events and community & educational development. She currently works as a freelance arts manager with various arts organisations including Uchenna Dance and the Association of Dance of the African Diaspora (ADAD). Grace has an MA in Arts Policy and Management and recently participated in The Clore Leadership Programme Short Course.
FATEMA ZEHRA Marketing and Events Coordinator:
Fatema has a passion for charity, the arts and event planning. With over four years experience in editorial and events, she has been a contributor to various print and online publications. She is a Trustee for Al Mizan Charitable Trust; a charity working to alleviate poverty in the UK. Having spent three years as an editor at emel Magazine, she has a strong footing in PR, marketing and media, and has since worked on several events including TEDxSOAS and a pop-up gallery collaborating with Seeds of Peace. Graduating with a Bsc in Psychological Sciences, Fatema went on to read Persian language and Middle Eastern Art and Literature at SOAS.
10
MYSA KAFIL-HUSSAIN Fundraising Assistant and Event Coordinator: Mysa Kafil-Hussain is currently working as a fundraiser for a Middle Eastern charity based in London, leading on event production and management and running annual appeals. She has past experience in the Adult Events team at the British Museum, actively contributing to the event programme for the well-received Hajj Exhibition in 2012. She also has extensive experience of event organisation from her time as President of the SOAS Middle East Society and a variety of arts and community organisations in London. A recent SOAS graduate, Mysa studied Arabic and History/History of Art.
LESLEY ASARE Lesley Asare is a visual artist, performer and designer who makes solo and collaborative work. Her work explores identity, personal histories, representation of women in contemporary culture, and passionately aims to create the space for selfreflection, empowerment and healing. She graduated from the London College of Fashion with an MA in Costume Design, and has worked with artists such as Mark Storor, Rene Baker, Amanda Monfroe and Pheobe Davies. She has also presented contemporary work within Artsadmin Toynbee Studios, Lost Theatre, Bush Theatre, ]performance s p a c e[, Steakhouse Live and The Hat Factory. Lesley is the co-founder of ishapebeauty.com.
INDIGO WILLIAMS Generation Slam in 2012, she has performed across the UK and Europe through platforms such as: Glastonbury Festival, BBC Radio 4’s Bespoken Word, The Royal Shakespeare Company, The Royal Festival Hall and most recently at TEDxBrixton and TEDxUCL. Indigo is the co-founder of ishapebeauty.com.
11
Partners, Sponsors & Supporters This is an Arts Council and National Lottery Funded Event. We would like to thank all of our amazing partners, without whom this project would not be possible:
zine
We would also like to give a special thank you to our Kickstarter supporters: Aaminah Sling / Annette / Anoushka Patel / Ayo Porter / Bocafloja / David Arnold / Farah Elahi / Gabrielle Smith / Gloria Gaspard / Iana Vidal/ Imrana Karimullah / Jasmin Rai/ Johanne / Kawthar Kayte / Leonie Johnson/ Mike Poltorak / Minal / Nathan Richards / Osman Junaid / Quaam Animashaun / Rachel Harger / Raisa Kabir / Remi Apata-Omisore/ Rukayah Sarumi / Salmaan Hamid / Sanjay Sharda / Sara Dadi / Sophie Le / Tahera Bandali /Usayd / Virginia
www.thebodynarratives.com www.facebook.com/TheBodyNarratives www.twitter.com/body_narratives