TAKE YOUR PASSION

The way people judge others is central to Christian Noelle Charles’ new exhibition. Ahead of its Edinburgh Printmakers opening, she talks to Isy Santini about self-love, community and breaking the rules

'The title is inspired by Flashdance,’ laughs Glasgow-based artist Christian Noelle Charles as she explains her latest exhibition, WHAT A FEELING! | ACT I, which explores themes of racial identity, inequality and care. ‘It’s that feeling of pressure, the sense of an audition feeling like a fight. ACT I is about getting ready for that.’ The exhibition at Edinburgh Printmakers is driven by conversations with other Black creatives and their experiences within art institutions. It will showcase a series of five portraits representing these creatives getting ready, in what Charles intends to be a celebration of her artistic community.

Originally hailing from Syracuse, New York, Charles’ work is concerned with self-love and the experiences of Black women. This exhibition will focus on gestures of judgement and the way that these can create tension within a space.

‘People judge you with the simplest hand gestures. It’s triggering because you’re now thinking, “am I doing the right thing?” instead of, “this is who I am”. It can hit your chest sometimes.’

For Charles, it’s important to call out that type of judgement, while also denouncing the position of power from which it comes. ‘In terms of being a Black woman, you have to work twice as hard to get half as far. You have to present yourself a certain way. For example, if you have locs, you’re called out because it’s not business-proper. In getting ready you’re being reminded that you can be judged for how you look and what you’re doing.’

Charles explains that the exhibition developed from her emotional response to being treated this way, but also from discovering a sense of self-love and community. To that end, she chose to situate her prints within a beauty-salon installation.

‘Growing up as a Black woman, that was your space for getting ready and being pampered, but also your space for gathering and talking about your situation and problems.’ Her art moves fluidly between media, utilising print, video and performance. ‘You make these layered experiences when creating a dance piece; with screen-printing it’s all layers. Every time a new layer is added it feels like a piece of music, and I start dancing.’ While music underpins her art, it’s through screen printing that she challenges the expectations of others. ‘Screen printing is a very particular process and method, but I can also be open and creative. I can feel like I’m breaking the rules.’

Charles is inspired by artists such as Carrie Mae Weems and Matisse who do the unexpected with their art. ‘You create these spaces to find new ways of seeing, as Nina Simone says.’ She hopes with WHAT A FEELING! | ACT I to critically examine the concept of opportunity. ‘It’s frustrating when it feels like you’re being tokenised rather than judged based on merit. It’s about trying to be aware and recognise those things, but at the same time celebrating how hard we’ve worked to just do what we love.’

Christian Noelle Charles: WHAT A FEELING! | ACT I, Edinburgh Printmakers, 28 July–17 September.

Scottish Women Artists

Over 70 exhibits aim to offer fresh perspectives on Scottish art history, including works from Alison Watt, Sekai Machache, Rachel Maclean and Joan Eardley, plus the pictured piece, Beatrice Huntington’s ‘A Cellist’.

n Dovecot Studios, 28 July–6 January.