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PRESS RELEASE 15 August 2013 ‘Daddy, I want to be a black artist’ by Kimathi Donkor 24 September – 24 November 2013 Admission Free Peckham Space, 89 Peckham High Street, London SE15 5RS Open: Wed-Fri 11 – 18.00 / Sat & Sun 11 – 17.00 (Closed: Mon & Tues) www.peckhamspace.com ‘Daddy, I want to be a black artist’, is an exhibition of new work by Kimathi Donkor and will be presented at Peckham Space, a contemporary art space in South London. Commissioned by Peckham Space, this exhibition will reflect on themes arising from Donkor’s engagement with local teenage black residents as they discovered the work of black British artists in the national collection at Tate Britain during workshops conducted earlier this Summer. There are 73,000 artworks in Tate’s collection, with about 15 of the 3,500 artists from both black and British identities – including Chris Ofili, Sonia Boyce, Donald Rodney, Frank Bowling and current Turner Prize nominee, Lynette Yiadom-Boakye. For this exhibition and inspired by the experiences of these recent workshops, Donkor has created new large scale paintings that embody the his ongoing concerns with identity, aesthetics, agency and representation. Alongside these new paintings, visitors will be invited to participate in a museum-style ‘learning zone’ where numerous resources and materials will be available for visitors to further explore the works that were visited during the workshops and the wider representation of black British artists within the UK’s visual arts culture. There will also be opportunities to learn more about the experiences of the young people engaged in the project. By combining new works and resource facilities within the exhibition space it is hoped that black British artists can be celebrated and their place in the national heritage reconsidered. The starting point for the commission was a series of workshops proposed by Kimathi Donkor for Leaders of Tomorrow, a leadership and enrichment programme for black teenagers of African and African-Caribbean heritage in Southwark. With the support and collaboration with Peckham Space, Donkor led the group on a series of after-hours and behind-the-scenes visits to exhibitions at Tate Britain and Tate Modern, as well as to Tate’s conservation studio. For many of these teenagers, these sessions marked their first visit to the gallery, as well as the first time they had been asked to critically consider and research works of art by prominent black British artists. Following the visits, the young people discussed, debated and wrote about the relationships between themselves, the artworks, the gallery and Britain’s black communities. From these workshops, Donkor has drawn out narratives, themes and imagery in order to create his paintings and the learning zone for the exhibition. The exhibition’s wry title, ‘Daddy, I want to be a black artist’, can be seen as a playful call to action for young people to find inspiration in the works of black British artists and become the artists of tomorrow. At the same time it suggests a sense of trepidation and intrigue about the relationship between the politics of race and perceptions of exclusion and mystique in the contemporary art world. Deji ljishakin, a member of Leaders of Tomorrow who has worked with Donkor on the project, described his feelings after visiting Tate Britian’s No Woman No Cry by Chris Ofili: “Chris Ofili's style of artwork is also simply amazing as numerous special effects are added to the piece of work that are visually beautiful but seem to have philosophical importance. For example, the black hearts suggest forgiveness of Stephen Lawrence's killers but also look very stylish.” Kimathi Donkor’s meticulously crafted compositions draw on antique and global traditions of portraiture and history painting to represent dramatic modern themes. His work can be seen as both a critique and a celebration of canons of Western and global art, and the historical narratives they represent. Kimathi Donkor said: “The idea of a ‘black artist’ still generates controversy, perhaps even fear, in the contemporary British art world, as it implies that all artists and viewers are complicit in a global politics of identity. It probably is helpful if young people from all backgrounds become conscious of such issues.” End For further information and press enquiries please email [email protected] or [email protected] or call Sioban Ketelaar on 07968 305 387 Notes to Editors EVENTS Free public events will take place throughout the exhibition, including an artist’s talk at Chelsea College of Art and Design on 2 October 2013, 17.30-19.00. Call: 020 7358 9645 or email [email protected] for more information and booking details. Kimathi Donnkor, born in Bournemouth, England in 1965, is a British artist living and working in London. His large, figurative oil paintings have been exhibited in museums and galleries internationally and across the UK. Donkor’s meticulously crafted compositions draw on antique traditions of portraiture and history painting to represent dramatic modern themes – with subjects ranging from urban conflict in London to the adventures of Ghana’s anti-colonial heroine, Yaa Asantewaa. His sitters are often friends, family or colleagues, which he believes, imparts a degree of intimacy to these politically charged works. Group exhibitions include: What's Going On at the Usher Gallery (Lincoln, 2013-2015); Seven things to do in an emergency at the British school at Rome (Italy,2011) and The 29th São Paulo Biennial (Brazil, 2010). Solo exhibitions include: Queens of the Undead at Iniva, Rivington Place (London, 2012). http://www.kimathidonkor.net Leaders of Tomorrow (LOT) is a leadership, enrichment and mentoring programme designed to raise the academic achievements of children and young people, particularly those of African and Caribbean heritage by empowering them with unbridled opportunities. Through a combination of discipline, clear parameters and tough love, together with a passionate commitment and a close-knit family atmosphere, they seek in weekly after school sessions to help young people grow in confidence, maturity, learn invaluable life skills, improve their school performance and compete effectively in the global market place. LOT London was established by Vallin Miller in 2002 and aims to eradicate the stereotypes that so often define our young people. We confound, not conform to stereotypes. We are “anti MTV Base”, “anti-ghetto grammar” and other accoutrements of “Bling” culture. http://www.lotlondon.org.uk Peckham Space is an art venue that opened in June 2010 and commissions contemporary artwork in partnership with local community groups. Located on Peckham Square, London SE15 Peckham Space seeks to increase access to cultural and educational activity and to encourage progression routes for young people into creative higher education. Peckham Space is funded by the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF), Southwark Council and Arts Council England. The Executive Director Emily Druiff has previously worked as an independent curator with particular interest in social practice art that engages in the public realm. www.peckhamspace.com LISTINGS INFORMATION ‘Daddy, I want to be a black artist’ by Kimathi Donkor 24 September – 24 November 2013 Admission Free Peckham Space, 89 Peckham High Street, London SE15 5RS Open: Wed-Fri 11 – 18.00 / Sat & Sun 11 – 17.00 (Closed: Mon & Tues) www.peckhamspace.com Call: 020 7358 9645 Email: [email protected] Transport: Buses: 343 from London Bridge, 78 from Liverpool Street/Aldgate, 12 or 171 from Elephant & Castle, 36 or 436 from Victoria/Oval. Rail: Peckham Rye and Queens Road direct from London Bridge. Overground: Peckham Rye and Queens Road direct from Dalston Junction and Clapham Junction .