Gawjus to review the newly opened Catford House for the AJ: a reinvented pub and community space refurbished and revived on a *ahem* shoestring budget by the brilliant Hayatsu Architects. Takeshi Hayatsu bringing his crafted approach to bear on a condemned 18th century farmhouse and Victorian club - leaving the unfinished as finished - already a bright and well-loved local venue. Commissioned by an amazing team at Lewisham Council with funding from the GLA.
In August, the 6th N.A.W. cohort started their "walking tour" brief with an East London walk according to the fresh South Asian History London Map by N.A.W. alumni @krish.nathaniel and architect-writer @bm_msoma !
We started our tour in front of Shanti Panchall's Across The Barrier, the only surviving anti-racialist mural commissioned by the Greater London Council in 1985.
The map then took us to Whitechapel, where we visited the Jagonari Asian Women's Education Centre by Matrix Feminist Design Cooperative (1987) and the Altab Ali Park (1998), among other architectural hidden gems.
We are currently busy developing our ambulatory writings and will be back soon with snippets from our colourful walks!
Really enjoyed guiding the South Asian London History tour for the @architecturefoundation , hitting some of our favourite central London histories from Bloomsbury to the Strand! Cameo by @andre3000 on tour!
Following this week's race riots in the UK, I'm reminded of the Race Today Collective on Railton Road, Brixton included in our South Asian London History Map. It was the headquarters of the British Black Panthers and published a bi-monthly magazine from 1969-78. It was both a Black and Asian organisation focused on uplifting communities and pushing back against racist institutions and interpersonal racism in the UK. Farrukh Dhondhy and Mala Sen were key members and a large photo of Dhondhy now forms part of the window display for the current building in remembrance of its members.
The Race Today Collective reminds us why Press and Media are vital in the fight for equity!
The South Asian London History Map was researched and written by myself and @krish.nathaniel , published by @bluecrowmaps with photos by @jounderhill .
There is great strength and power in understanding where you fit in the continuum of history.
Photos of the South Asian London History Map by @blndrfld
Thank you so much to everyone who came to @stanfordstravel this evening to celebrate our new South Asian History London Map by @krish.nathaniel and @bm_msoma with photography by @jounderhill .
And a big thank you to @stanfordstravel for hosting!
Happy South Asian Heritage Month to all!
ATTENTION CITI-ZENS
News to share which I’m gassed about - our South Asian History London Map is launching next week (18th) to mark the start of South Asian Heritage Month!
I’ve been putting this together with Bushra Mohamed @bm_msoma : researching and assembling some incredible places, people and stories that have shaped London and global history (and taking walks together in the process).
For the 1 in 5 Londoners of South Asian descent, we hope the map surprises you, empowers you, and lets you uncover a rich history of independence leaders, artists, writers and activists. And for everyone else…we hope this gives you a better understanding of your city - part of our collective story. 😍
Big thanx to Niti Acharya and Shumi Bose for your advice and for sounding out our thoughts, and to Derek Lamberton, at Blue Crow Media for your continued support.
Join us at the launch next Thursday (in bio) or tune in to BBC London on Friday 19th at 11am to hear more from me and Bushra.
Order a copy of the map at bluecrowmedia.com - shipping worldwide.
In November I was commissioned to write the feature article for the first issue of ‘Public Notice’ - Public Practice’s new magazine - and it’s in print !
Focusing on rural approaches to civic and public life under a backdrop of generational austerity, my piece explores the creation of a new co-located care home and public library at the heart of Belper, a post-industrial town in Derbyshire’s Amber Valley.
A shout out to @fliss_on_tour who put so much energy into pulling the publication together, and @dionbarrett for the amazing photography.
Viva la public secta ✅
My latest work in The AR, profiling three emerging practices + their work for November’s issue. Have a little peep.
Dignity Memorial Mausoleum (Grass+Batz), Santiago, Chile
Haus Hoinka (Atelier Kaiser Shen), Pfaffenhofen, Germany
Homerton College Dining Hall (Feilden Fowles), Cambridge, UK
*Port of Spain Scrapbook*
1-2. A few weeks ago I was lucky to be in the Alice Yard space for a few days with Rayo - a cross Caribbean group of artists and curators developing an inter-island and interdisciplinary arts education programme. Very much a fly on the wall for those days, but a happy fly. Great to meet @rnst.rivera@nlskingston@nikolaimnoel , follow Rayo at @ray_o_n_
3-4. Clippings and books from the T&T Heritage Library (air conditioned days), spatial formations of creolised ceremonies by Sat Balkaransingh: Hosay & Ramleela
5-6. Assembling in the yard, using found materials to map transnational histories: Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal to San Fernando and St James
💚
Findings from Trinidad’s National Library, National Archives and Alma Jordan Library:
I’m exploring Hosay (Hosein) commemorations as an avenue to reflect on creolised and syncretic cultures within the South Asian diaspora.
What I’ve found in the archive shows Hosay as a multi-ethnic and multi-faith practice, with an origin in Shia Islam.
The transitory architecture of tadjahs formed a presence in the landscape for indentured Indians and condensed resistance against British colonial forces.
The 1884 Hosay Massacre in San Fernando outlined the potency and threat that this act posed to colonial authorities - when processions of tadjahs from Trinidad’s sugar estates were answered with the Riot Act and rifle fire.
Hosay yards in Cedros and St James continue to enact these rites.
> 19th century colonial postcards show ‘tadjah’ floats carried on Big Hosay day. One caption confuses Hosay with ‘Ramleela’, a Trinidadian Hindu festival.
> Photos from Siparia in 1966 show Afro- and Indo-Trinidadians joining Hosay.
> Trinidad Express newspaper cutting. ‘Drowning’ tadjahs by immersing them in the sea is a practice drawn from Hindu festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi and Durga Puja.
Tomorrow (Friday 5th May) from 6.30 at Granderson Lab, Belmont.
Some thoughts and things in a space, using Hosay as a starter to explore Indo-Trinidadian culture.
Several Hands:
Researcher-in-residence Krish Nathaniel presents a short exploration on creolised East Indian culture, spatially exploring the link and divergence between “origin” and the Indo-Trinidadian diaspora.
Using the visual and sound culture of Hosay as his inception point, the works consider presence, procession and spatial rites in Trinidad’s landscape.
Pulling at loose threads by challenging notions of fidelity and dogma, Nathaniel’s ongoing research seeks to bring to light moments of playfulness, inclusivity, and new traditions within diasporic histories, as a way to inform creolised expression.
@arnaldojj@rhondachansoo@chriscrozier_@toofpress@method_moda come through and tell your friends 😁
Image: Heating Tassa drums with fire, Hosay preparations 1965 (Courtesy: National Archives TT)
I’m excited to share that I’ll be starting a research residency with Alice Yard in Port of Spain from next week ! @aliceyardinsta
Over the coming weeks I’ll be building up some emerging writing, making and research on Indo-Trinidadian culture, creolisation and connections to land…
Sharing more as things unfold. Thank you Sean, Chris, Kriston @toofpress for your energy and openness.
And to @bluecurry for thoughts yesterday - I’ll make sure Chris gets his bike lights (!)
(Third image) - Hosay festival procession, 1910
(Fourth image) - Big Hosay Night in Cedros, 2011
