Wednesday 19th July: Africa Utopia at The Southbank Centre

Africa Utopia is a free annual festival celebrating the arts and culture from the African Diaspora at The Southbank Centre.  There is a market of independent traders with a whole range of products from Kente textiles to Shea butter cosmetics, beaded jewellry, letter-press prints, photography and books.  There was a fashion show of new emerging designers and block party of music and live performances on the embankment stage till the end of the day.  The final song to be played out was by Fela Kuti which was a perfect soundtrack for our dancing feet in Fela socks!!!!

See archive Africa Utopia posts here and here.

See Phoebe Boswell 's 'Duniake' cushion fabric in an archive post here.

Monday 19th June: "Propa Tee" exhibition at The Southbank Centre

My archive Björk t-shirt in "Propa Tee", an exhibition at The Southbank Centre curated by M.I.A, Gorillaz co-producer Remi Kabaka and art director Harris Elliott.  The showcase of 40 years of music t-shirts takes place in the Archive Studio space as part of M.I.A's Meltdown Festival for this Summer.  

Tuesday 15th Sept: Lakwena installing at "Africa Utopia" Southbank Centre

Always following the trail of Lakwena's graphic art, I headed down to the Southbank Centre a day before the opening of Africa Utopia to see her setting up.  Since her 3D relief pieces as part of the "Africa Calling" showcase last year, this time she was commissioned by the actual event to fill the space.  The site specific installations were puzzle-pieced together in both paper panels and shapes that were cut out of vinyl like giant sticker sheets.  

"Looking back to the flurry of African nations gaining thier independence from the 1950s to the 1970s, these installations echo an optimism reflected in the aesthetic of the moment - the motifs and symbols used in the flags of new nations, the Modernist architecture of new buildings, the stars and icons adorning album covers.  Several decades on, these installations act as a reminder and encourages us to hold on to those original hopes and dreams" 

If like me, you're a fan of Lakwena's mural movement, see her talk at a free event next week at Rich Mix - see more details here.