ROOM 02

Anthony Bila (South Africa) has created a new body of work ‘the power(lessness) of (n)one’ for FORMAT, that explores how lockdown restrictions have compromised our sense of autonomy, taking into consideration the individualism of western culture versus the concept of community often found in African and Eastern culture has impacted our sense of control. The Open Call was organised by QUAD, Derby. FORMAT, Here There Everywhere, New Art Exchange, in partnership with African Artists’ Foundation and Lagos Photo, Nigeria. The Open Call was organised by QUAD, Derby. FORMAT, Here There Everywhere, New Art Exchange, in partnership with African Artists’ Foundation and Lagos Photo, Nigeria.

‘House of Realness’ began with a casual conversation between Sipho Gongxeka and Thato Ramaisa (aka Fela Gucci.) They were interested in the role that fashion or clothing plays in queer culture in township communities. Particularly, how certain stereotypes are perpetuated. For instance, how one’s character, masculinity, gender and sexuality can simply be judged by how one presents publicly. Oddly, when you are queer in the township, the expectation is to show that part of your identity in the way that you dress. The assumption is that a queer person is someone who wears bright colours, tight women’s clothing, always in the company of women, will have a funny or feminine hairdo and a super extroverted personality etc.… Growing up in the townships, we have come to know and expect queer people to perform these stereotypes in particular ways. Both Thato and Buyani Duma (aka Desire Marea of the popular performance art duo, FAKA,) are proud black, queer men. Their own creative content is well known for challenging existing preconceptions about queer identities in this country. As a project, House of Realness is developed in conversation with FAKA; as well as with, queer model, Nkululeko Masemola and other members of my social and personal network that Gongxeka featured in the images. This initial body of work is a starting point for his interest in the politics of self-representation in black communities. Gongxeka’s visual approach to this project aimed to create a set of nostalgic images with an aesthetic that mimics a style of photography reminiscent of what a street photographer; working in township communities in the 1980s might have captured. The body of work can be considered a kind of imagined ‘archive’ of queer daily life during this era This exhibition has been organised through ‘Here, There & Everywhere’ and their ‘Africa/UK: Transforming Art Ecologies’ programme organised by New Art Exchange, which offers artistic collaborations through artist residencies, exhibitions and events. The Open Call was organised by QUAD, Derby. FORMAT, Here There Everywhere, New Art Exchange, in partnership with African Artists’ Foundation and Lagos Photo, Nigeria. The Open Call was organised by QUAD, Derby. FORMAT, Here There Everywhere, New Art Exchange, in partnership with African Artists’ Foundation and Lagos Photo, Nigeria.The Open Call was organised by QUAD, Derby. FORMAT, Here There Everywhere, New Art Exchange, in partnership with African Artists’ Foundation and Lagos Photo, Nigeria.

‘House of Realness’ began with a casual conversation between Sipho Gongxeka and Thato Ramaisa (aka Fela Gucci.) They were interested in the role that fashion or clothing plays in queer culture in township communities. Particularly, how certain stereotypes are perpetuated. For instance, how one’s character, masculinity, gender and sexuality can simply be judged by how one presents publicly. Oddly, when you are queer in the township, the expectation is to show that part of your identity in the way that you dress. The assumption is that a queer person is someone who wears bright colours, tight women’s clothing, always in the company of women, will have a funny or feminine hairdo and a super extroverted personality etc.… Growing up in the townships, we have come to know and expect queer people to perform these stereotypes in particular ways. Both Thato and Buyani Duma (aka Desire Marea of the popular performance art duo, FAKA,) are proud black, queer men. Their own creative content is well known for challenging existing preconceptions about queer identities in this country. As a project, House of Realness is developed in conversation with FAKA; as well as with, queer model, Nkululeko Masemola and other members of my social and personal network that Gongxeka featured in the images. This initial body of work is a starting point for his interest in the politics of self-representation in black communities. Gongxeka’s visual approach to this project aimed to create a set of nostalgic images with an aesthetic that mimics a style of photography reminiscent of what a street photographer; working in township communities in the 1980s might have captured. The body of work can be considered a kind of imagined ‘archive’ of queer daily life during this era This exhibition has been organised through ‘Here, There & Everywhere’ and their ‘Africa/UK: Transforming Art Ecologies’ programme organised by New Art Exchange, which offers artistic collaborations through artist residencies, exhibitions and events. The Open Call was organised by QUAD, Derby. FORMAT, Here There Everywhere, New Art Exchange, in partnership with African Artists’ Foundation and Lagos Photo, Nigeria. The Open Call was organised by QUAD, Derby. FORMAT, Here There Everywhere, New Art Exchange, in partnership with African Artists’ Foundation and Lagos Photo, Nigeria.The Open Call was organised by QUAD, Derby. FORMAT, Here There Everywhere, New Art Exchange, in partnership with African Artists’ Foundation and Lagos Photo, Nigeria.

Uzoma Orji’s new work 'Welcome to Instaland' (2021), invites you to explore a surrealistic landscape that reflects the realities of social media today and considers the relationship artists have with it. uzomaorji.com The Open Call was organised by QUAD, Derby. FORMAT, Here There Everywhere, New Art Exchange, in partnership with African Artists’ Foundation and Lagos Photo, Nigeria.The Open Call was organised by QUAD, Derby. FORMAT, Here There Everywhere, New Art Exchange, in partnership with African Artists’ Foundation and Lagos Photo, Nigeria.