In celebration of Tate Modern’s exhibition of Lubaina Himid’s work this series of five online events takes a closer look at her expansive practice, covering topics and themes such as colour, opera and collaborative practice.
Led by Ego Ahaiwe Sowinski, these 2-hour online seminar sessions offer an opportunity to discuss the work and its themes as a group. Each session is joined by a respondent with specialized knowledge of Himid’s practice contributing to the discussion, helping to steer the conversation. Each event includes smaller group discussions and activities in breakout rooms, allowing for everyone to actively participate.
This series is for those interested in Lubaina Himid’s practice and for connecting with other likeminded individuals through discussion. No prior experience or knowledge is necessary.
12 January: Colour, Text, and Secret Languages
In this opening session we will explore and discuss the ways in Lubaina Himid’s practice employs colour, text, and secret languages. We will use her current Tate Modern exhibition as a key reference point.
9 February: The Politics of Dress
Using Lubaina Himid’s references to textiles, costume and clothing which appear throughout her work we will undertake a broad discussion around the politics of dress.
This session will be joined by Carol Tulloch.
9 March: Opera and the Le Rodeur series
Taking inspiration from Lubaina Himid’s interest in theatre, we will use opera as a lens through which to view her work and specifically the Le Rodeur painting series.
This session will be joined by Griselda Pollock.
13 April: Performance and Activism
During this session we will reflect upon Lubaina Himid’s role as a cultural activist and consider the relationship between activism and performance.
This session will be joined by Lisa Merrill.
11 May: The Archive
In this final session we will focus on Lubaina Himid’s work on Making Histories Visible an interdisciplinary visual art research project based in the Centre for Contemporary Art (School of Art, Design and Fashion) at the University of Central Lancashire. We will consider how this archival research is surfaced in her artistic practice.
This session will be joined by Christine Eyene.
Ego Ahaiwe Sowinski is an archivist and mixed media artist currently pursuing a collaborative PhD at Chelsea College of Arts (UAL)/Tate Britain. Her doctoral research places much needed critical attention on Jamaican born sculptor Ronald Moody (1900 - 1984). She holds an MA in Archives and Record Management, International (UCL). She is a member of the Afrofeminist Transatlantic Collaboration which maps and archives the cultural resistance of Black feminist artists in the UK and the Twins Cities and archivist for the Rita Keegan Archive Project. Her practice aims to develop collective, collaborative, archival strategies in relation to physical space, environment, the public and the personal in relation to the African Diaspora