Guest Projects

Have you been to see Suspended States? Suspended States, the first solo exhibition of Y.S.F. and G.A.S. founder Yinka Shonibare CBE RA for over 20 years in a London public institution is now open at Serpentine Gallery.⁠ ⁠ Suspended States includes both new and recent installations, sculptures, pictorial quilts and woodcut prints. The works on view explore central themes of legacies of colonial power, sites of refuge and shelter. Shonibare’s new works centre on conflicts and related migration, and conversations on public sculptures and their significance in our cities.⁠ ⁠ The exhibition also explores how Shonibare’s social practice is an important extension of his visual one with a room dedicated to uncovering the evolution from Guest Projects founded in London in 2008 to Guest Artists Space Foundation and its two residency sites in Lagos and on the outskirts of the village of Ikise, near Ijebu Ode.⁠ ⁠ ⁠—— Image credits 1. Yinka Shonibare CBE, Decolonised Structures, 2022-23. Fibreglass sculptures, hand-painted with Dutch wax pattern, gold leaf and wooden plinths. Dimensions variable. Commissioned by Sharjah Art Foundation. Courtesy of the artist and Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, Johannesburg, London and New York, James Cohan Gallery, New York and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London and New York. Photographer: Stephen White & Co. ©️ Yinka Shonibare CBE 2. Yinka Shonibare CBE: Suspended States, 2024. Guest Projects and Guest Artists Space Foundation installation view, Serpentine South. ©️ Yinka Shonibare CBE 2024. Photo: ©️ Jo Underhill. Courtesy Yinka Shonibare CBE and Serpentine. ⁠ #SuspendedStates #YinkaShonibare #ShonibareStudio #SerpentineGallery #YinkaShonibareFoundation #GASFoundation #ArtExhibition #YinkaShonibareCBE @shonibarestudio #serpentinesouth

We're excited to spotlight a new exhibition facilitated by Guest Projects Digital 2021 partner ICF.⁠ ⁠ Join Ort Gallery and ICF for Epiphany (Temporaire), a solo exhibition of new work by British-Jamaican artist Exodus Crooks, curated by Orphée Kashala. ⁠ ⁠ Exhibition dates: 26 August - 17 September⁠ Open Wednesday - Sunday, 12-5pm ⁠ ⁠ Location: ICF @ Block 336 in Brixton⁠ ⁠ Opening event: Friday 25 August, 6-9pm ⁠ RSVP NOW https://bit.ly/EpiphanyTemporaire⁠ ⁠ Epiphany (Temporaire) invites us to witness, with reverence, as Exodus takes an inward journey, a slow walk home, a look inside. They place the creative process alongside the process of self-discovery, and search for self through creativity, home through imagination, and heritage through interrogation.⁠ ⁠ @icf__ ⁠ @ortgallery ⁠ exoduscrooks⁠ @orphee_kashala ⁠ @block336 ⁠ ⁠ #EpiphanyTemporaire #ExodusCrooks ⁠

@GuestProjects Digital alumni @Chiizii has collaborated with @Queercircle to produce a new multimedia work that occupies the Queercircle library and reading room. The piece titled 'Ogoni 9' uncovers the often-forgotten history of a group of activists known collectively as the Ogoni Nine who were killed by the Nigerian government after protesting the exploitation and degradation of their land by British oil companies. ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ Chiizii was introduced to Queercirle by Y.S.F. during her Guest Projects Digital Residency in 2022 as part of a network and opportunity building initiative designed to help connect residents with organisations, galleries and institutions whose programmes aligned with their practice. Chiizii's residency was generously supported by Genesis Foundation.⁠ ⁠ 🔗 Read more via the link in bio⁠ ⁠ #queercircle #ogoni9 #nigeria #archives #exhibition #guestprojects #guestprojectsdigital #genesisfoundation #residency @genesis_fndn All images courtesy of Queercircle.

Calling the Body to attention, is former Guest Projects Digital Resident Yewande YoYo Odunubi’s first solo exhibition. It is a gesture towards (re)centring and (re)claiming the body as an embodied site of archive, communication and imaginings. Sitting on a moment of pause, it reflects on what might constitute a poetics of the body, and the role movement performs as a process and language for enlivening threads of inquiry.⁠ ⁠ Featuring moving image, sound and performance, and collaboration with music and sound artist Auclair and interdisciplinary poet Rohan Ayinde, the exhibition forms part of Yewande’s year-long Diasporic Curatorial Animateur Fellowship with ICF, during which she has been conducting research into our archive and exploring a series of questions that resonate with her practice. ⁠ ⁠ 🔗 For full exhibition details and to book a free ticket head to the link in bio.⁠ ⁠ @mamayoyoreturns ⁠ @@icf__ ⁠ @auclairmusic ⁠ @rohanayinde ⁠ @block336 ⁠ ⁠ #exhibition #performance #ICF #block336 #yewandeodunubi #aucliar #brixton #artistresidency #residency⁠

This week we're looking forward to experiencing the work of our recent Guest Projects Digital resident @chiizii . She will be exhibiting research developed, in part, during her residency with us at @154artfair as part of the Children of the Diaspora special project.⁠ ⁠ Curated by Pacheanne Anderson, Children of the Diaspora is an exhibition that brings together artists living and working in the UK within the context of the global contemporary African and Caribbean diaspora. ⁠ ⁠ The project examines current perspectives on Black British diaspora stories in the art market through a broad and inclusive curatorial lens and showcases an expansive and authentic look at what it means to be part of the wider diaspora as first- and second-generation artists and art professionals in Britain.⁠ ⁠ Children of the Diaspora will present an array of mediums, including painting, photography, ceramics, textile, film, and moving image, toward evoking critical conversations around the different experiences of Black Britishness in all its glory. All works on view are available for sale. ⁠ ⁠ @pacheanneanderson @pacollectorsclub #154artfair #chiizii #guestprojects #guestprojectsdigital ⁠ ⁠ Image credit: Untitled 03 (2022) Collage and paper on kraft paper.⁠ Artist: Chiizii

New Event: Self, Movement and Memory: Hannah Marsh in Conversation with Baff Akoto⁠ ⁠ In 2021 Baff Akoto (@baff_akoto ) was selected as an Artist in Focus through the Guest Projects Digital residency programme. Since receiving the award, BOM commissioned a new, immersive installation of his work LEAVE THE EDGES and the piece was subsequently included in the Whitechapel London Open.⁠ ⁠ A year on from the residency @tate Curatorial Assistant Hannah Marsh (@ha_na_m__ ) joins Baff Akoto for a conversation exploring themes of self, movement and memory in the context of migration and identity; concepts that are critical to both their practices. The discussion will draw thematic inspiration from LEAVE THE EDGES as well as Akoto’s multichannel work THE LOVE AND… THE MAGIC.⁠ ⁠ Book your free ticket now via the link in bio⁠. ⁠ #guestprojects #guestprojectsdigital #baffakoto #artisttalk #digitalevent #augmentedreality #virtualreality #migration⁠ ⁠

'Obodo Sketch Study 06' (2022) is a drawing by @Chiizii of Anambra State, a Nigerian state located in the southeastern region of the country.⁠ ⁠ The drawing is informed by a paper published in 2007 by the Centre for Archaeological Investigations Press at the University of Southern Illinois. Titled 'Culinary encounters: food, identity, and colonialism".⁠ ⁠ The paper aims to explore several questions including why and how people sometimes change their food habits in situations of colonial contact and what implications this adoption has for our understanding of colonialism.⁠ ⁠ Uncover more of Chiizii's research via the link in bio.⁠ ⁠ #colonialism #foodculture #research #guestprojectsdigital #guestprojects #researchresidency #nigerianfood #nigeriandiet #artistresidency #residency #chiizii #niibuogwu⁠

This collage by digital research resident @Chiizii is the result of research into the African oil bean seed and its edible, medicinal and industrial processes.⁠ ⁠ The nutrient-packed food condiment is native to Eastern Nigeria and is popularly known as “Ukpaka” or “ugba” in Igbo land, “apara” in Yoruba land, and is called “Ukana” by the Efiks in Southern Nigeria. ⁠ ⁠ The collage forms part of Nni Bu Ogwu (Food is Medicine), the online research archive developed by Chiizii during her Guest Projects Digital residency. Explore the full Tech Folder via the link in bio.⁠ ⁠ #gustprojectsdigital #guestprojects #digitalresidency #artistresidency #nigerianfood #africanfood #westafricanfood #igbo #chiizii

We continue highlighting some of the research uncovered through @Chiizii 's archive Nni Bu Ogwu (food is medicine) this week with this drawing. It primarily references a late 19th century photograph of an Igbo girl preparing food and was discovered by the artist on Ụkpụrụ̄, a blog of historical images of the Igbo, their neighbours and beyond. ⁠ ⁠ Swipe to see the original photograph and head to the link in bio to explore more of Chiizii's archive.⁠ ⁠ ⁠ Image credit⁠ 1. Untitled Sketch Study 01 (2022). Coloured pencil on kraft paper. Courtesy of Chiizii.⁠ ⁠ 2. Ibo girl preparing food; P. A. Mc C. [unknown location]. Courtesy of Ụkpụrụ̄ Tumblr.⁠ ⁠ This project is generously supported by the Genesis Foundation.⁠ ⁠ #guestprojects #guestprojectsdigital #igbo #archive #researchresidency #nigeria #igbo #igboculture #igbohistory #nigerianhistory⁠ @genesis_fndn

Digital Research Resident @Chiizii 's archive Nni Bu Ogwu (Food is Medicine) is a rich multidisciplinary resource and teaching tool designed to educate and encourage conversation around pre and post-colonial Igbo diets. ⁠ ⁠ Much of the research is realised visually through collages like 'Untitled 01' (2022) pictured. This particular piece draws from several sources including a research paper and catalogue of ethnomedicinal plant resources of South Eastern Nigeria published by Gordian C. Obute and the Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology at the University of Port Harcourt.⁠ ⁠ To access Nni Bu Ogwu and find out more head to the link in bio.⁠ ⁠ Image Credit⁠ Untitled 01 (2022). Collage. Paper, fruit net, egusi seed and utazi packaging, and sticker on folder.⁠ ⁠ Image courtesy of Chiizii.⁠ ⁠ This project has been generously supported by the Genesis Foundation.⁠ ⁠ ⁠ #guestprojectsdigital #guestprojects #artistresidency #nnibuogwu #chiizii #foodmedicine #healingplants #igbo #igboculture #genesisfoundation @genesis_fndn

Nni Bu Ogwu is live from today (link in bio)! This immersive, multidisciplinary research archive and teaching tool by @chiizii was designed to educate and encourage conversation around pre and post-colonial Igbo diets. The platform seeks to interrogate how Igbo Nigerians have used art to exchange food information whilst simultaneously investigating how art can be used as an accessible tool for educational enrichment. Nni Bu Ogwu which will also launch a multi-sited physical manifestation during London’s Frieze Week, is the result of a pilot three-month research residency awarded through Guest Projects Digital. The project has been developed in partnership with Yinka Shonibare Foundation (@yinkashonibarefoundation ), Guest Projects Digital, University of the Arts London, The Research Centre for Transnational Art, Identity and Nation (TrAIN) and its Director, Professor Paul Goodwin.⁠ It is generously supported by the Genesis Foundation⁠.⁠ #nnibuogwu #foodismedicine #digitalresidency #artistresidency #nigeria #igbo #archive #chiizii #guestprojects #guestprojectsdigital #gpd2022

"The current focus of my research and practice addresses the following questions: How have Igbos used art to exchange food information? How can art be used as an accessible tool for nutritional and educational enrichment?" - Chiizii⁠ ⁠ Read more about Chiizii (@chiizii ), the recipient of our pilot Digital Research Residency on the website now (link in bio).⁠ ⁠ ----⁠ ⁠ This project has been developed in partnership with Yinka Shonibare Foundation, Guest Projects Digital (@guestprojects ), University of the Arts London (@unioftheartslondon ), The Research Centre for Transnational Art, Identity and Nation (TrAIN) and its Director Professor Paul Goodwin.⁠ ⁠ It is generously supported by the Genesis Foundation (@genesis_fndn )⁠.⁠ ⁠ Image Credit: 'N’ime Kitchen' (2018). Paper and digital collage.⁠ ⁠ "N’ime Kitchen in English means in the kitchen. This piece was created with items, food, colour & weather I’ve experienced and seen in an Igbo kitchen.⁠" - Chiizii⁠ ⁠ #digitalresidency #researchresidency #yinkashonibarefoundation #guestprojects #guestprojectsdigital #genesisfoundation @ual_postgrad_community #genesiskickstartfund