The Showroom | Collective Intimacy

Collective Intimacy was a live programme of events inspired by The Showroom’s commitment to togetherness and communal knowledge that takes on multiple trans-located narratives of the current Black experience as a point of departure for a cosmopolitan worldview. It hosted interdisciplinary interventions by artists, musicians, designers, writers, thinkers, collectives and members of the public, who are all invited to distort notions of selfhood and togetherness in the spirit of creating a global community.

Black Image Corporation
An installation by Theaster Gates

Featuring Collective Intimacy
A live programme in collaboration with
Prada, The Vinyl Factory, The Store X and The Showroom

Artist Theaster Gates presents a new chapter of Black Image Corporation, a project that explores the visual and cultural representation of contemporary Black identity and material culture, from the legacy of Ebony and Jet magazines in the Johnson Publishing Company’s iconic archives from the artist’s hometown in the South Side of Chicago, to the powerful creative energy currently pulsing through London.

For the month of October, this installation and The Showroom played host to Collective Intimacy, an ongoing live programme inspired by Gates’s ethos of collaboration and The Showroom’s commitment to togetherness and communal knowledge, aiming to create a new space for people to gather, listen, converse, and contemplate amongst a fusion of art, design, music, and everyday life.

Image: Phoebe Boswell, Mothering Memory Performance Documentation, 2019. Courtesy of The Showroom

Image: Steel Pan Band New Generation Performance Documentation at 180 The Strand, 2019. Courtesy of Prada

PAST EVENTS

THURSDAY 21 November
6pm – 8.30pm
The Showroom
A performance of South X South East by artist Belinda Zhawi as MA.MOYO

THURSDAY 7 November
6pm – 8.30pm
The Showroom

A Collective Takeover by POCC, a talented community of black and brown creatives. This event includes an introduction to the group followed by a screening and Q&A from talent in the Collective led by co-founders Nana Bempah and Kevin Morosky & Tanya Ramsurrun.

Screening includes:
- Femi Ladi, Kwawe, "What Have You Done" (2019)
- Eloise King, COPPAFEEL “Grab life by the boobs" (2019)
- Kevin Morosky, Wool (2019)
- Filmawi Efrem, Mj Cole X Kojey Radical “Soak ItUp" (2018)
- Abdou Cisse, Serious Tingz (2019)
- Ramone Anderson, Soul Skate (2019)
- Gideon Nevele, Trapped (2019)
- Rohan Blair Mangat, Wretch 32 X Tate - When I See You, You See Me (2018)

SATURDAY 26 October
12pm – 7pm
180 The Strand

12pm – 3.30pm Live DJ Sets by The Vinyl Factory Radio, The World’s First Vinyl Only Broadcast Platform, featuring Delia Tesileanu, Music for Architecture – Peter Adjaye & Nabihah Iqbal

12pm – 2pm An introduction to POCC, a talented community of black and brown creatives, followed by a screening and Q&A from talent within the Collective led by co-founder Kevin Morosky & Tanya Ramsurrun

Screenings include:
- Femi Ladi, Kwawe, "What Have You Done" (2019)
- Kevin Morosky, Wool (2019)
- Filmawi Efrem, Mj Cole X Kojey Radical “Soak ItUp" (2018)
- Abdou Cisse, Serious Tingz (2019)
- Ramone Anderson, Soul Skate (2019)
- Gideon Nevele, Trapped (2019)
- Rohan Blair Mangat, Wretch 32 X Tate - When I See You, You See Me (2018)

2pm–3:30pm Project O (a collaboration between Alexandrina Hemsley & Jamila Johnson-Small) present their video Saved (2018)

3.30pm – 4.30pm Artist Beverley Bennett presents and interactive sound and sharing session reflecting on her Simon Says/Dadda collaborative research project with Director Elvira Dyangani Ose

4.30pm – 5.30pm Artist Phoebe Boswell presents The Lighthouse, a live performance soundscape of invited women collectively reading from gathered texts, alongside a screening of Ythlaf (2018).

This is the second iteration and includes a growing, amorphous group of Boswell’s peers: Alexandria Smith, Amahra Spence, Bolanle Tajudeen, Buitumelo Mushekwa, Bumi Thomas, Cindy Sissokho, Claudette Johnson, Jade Jackman, Jade Monserrat, Katherine Finerty, Leanne Ingram, Liv Wynter, Pamela Jikiemi, Natalie Nzeyimana, Marion Osieyo, Rasheeda Nalumoso, Ritika Biswas, Rianna Jade Parker, Ruth Sutoyé, Zaahida Nabagereka, Zoé Whitley, and more.

5.30pm – 7pm Artist Larry Achiampong screens Sunday's Best (2016) and invites artist Phoebe Collings-James for a sound session alongside her video Mother Tongue, Mother Master (2018). This audio-visual experience is accompanied by a performance with Christian Bravo & James Jordan Johnson activating Achiampong's Relic Traveller Flag.

THURSDAY 24 October
6pm – 8.30pm
The Showroom

7pm – 8pm A set of performances by Artist Helen Cammock and a poetry session by Playwright Inua Ellams, followed by a conversation with Director Elvira Dyangani Ose

Image: Inua Ellams and Helen Cammock in conversation with Elvira Dyangani Ose, 2019. Photo: Paul Allen

SATURDAY 19 October
12pm – 7pm
180 The Strand

12pm – 3.30pm Live DJ Sets by The Vinyl Factory Radio, The World’s First Vinyl Only Broadcast Platform

12pm – 2pm Cultural Anthology POSTSCRIPT & Friends on Narratives of the Black Experience through print, film and conversation with founders Chinasa Chukwu & Elvira Vedelago in conversation with one of the muses, Singer Anaïs & Filmmaker Remi Laudat

2pm – 4pm Artist Amartey Golding screens his three Chainmail films with a live conversation of family and friends including dancer Solomon Golding & Assistant Curator Katherine Finerty

4pm – 5pm Artists Larry Amponsah & Andrew Hart present Led in Strange Ways, a performance with music improvisation, public interaction and conversation. A new take on Jazz and Afro beats is brought further to life with conceptual fashion designs by Ten Motiwa

5pm – 6pm Poet & Musician James Massiah presents a new performance, Purgatory

6pm – 7pm Singer Bumi Thomas presents Border Native, a live music performance

Image: Bumi Thomas peforms Border Native at 180 The Strand, 19 October 2019. Courtesy of Prada

SATURDAY 12 October
12pm – 7pm
180 The Strand

12pm – 3.30pm Live DJ Sets by The Vinyl Factory Radio, The World’s First Vinyl Only Broadcast Platform

1pm – 3pm Guest DJ Anthony Joseph

4.30pm – 7pm Artist & Producer Nephertiti Oboshie Schandorf presents Sospiro, an immersive participatory performance on breathing and vocalisation with violinist Blaize Henry and sopranos Julia Daramy-Williams and Jacqueline Yu.

THURSDAY 10 October 6pm – 8.30pm
The Showroom

Phoebe Boswell's Mothering Memory, a special immersive reading experiment / experience, where the artist will be joined by her mother Joyce Boswell to navigate childhood narratives, shared histories, Black womanhood, freedom dreams and the space between.

SATURDAY 5 October
12pm – 7pm
180 The Strand

12pm – 5pm Live DJ Sets by The Vinyl Factory Radio, The World’s First Vinyl Only Broadcast Platform with Alexander Nut and Andrew Ashong

5pm – 7pm Music Collective BANTUTRONIC presents an evening of poetry, music & conversation with Poet Julianknxx and Musician Thabo hosted by Cultural Producer Harris Elliot

FRIDAY 4 October
12pm – 7pm
180 The Strand

12pm – 5pm Live DJ sets by The Vinyl Factory Radio, The World’s First Vinyl Only Broadcast Platform with Gabriela Helfelt, Cherrie Flava and Norsicaa

2.30pm – 3pm Artist Simnikiwe Buhlungu hosts a DJ Takeover with The Vinyl Factory Live Radio Show

3pm – 5 Artist Collective Sxwks presents an afternoon of music and poetry with Julianknxx, Caleb Femi, Darius McFarlane and DJ Leanne George hosted by Presenter Swarzy Macaly

6.30pm – 7pm Artist Zinzi Minott presents In Movement II, a dance and film based performance and installation conversation alongside a sound set by Filmmaker & DJ Rabz Lansiquot and her new video work Where Did We Land (2019)

Image: Channel One Sound System DJ set at 180 The Strand, 2019. Courtesy of Prada

THURSDAY 3 October
10am – 2am
180 The Strand

All Day Live DJ sets by The Vinyl Factory Radio, The World’s First Vinyl Only Broadcast Platform with Dublate Pearl, Wu-Lu, Elijah, Debonair, Channel One Sound System, Zezi Ifore and James Massiah

12:30pm –2pm Artist Tremaine Emory presents an installation of his piece A Proper Burial Finally, Thanks America! alongside a conversation with Artist Theaster Gates and Curator Elvira Dyangani Ose

2 pm–2:30pm Designer Dozie Kanu in conversation with curator Elvira Dyangani Ose

2:30pm –3pm Artist Simnikiwe Buhlungu hosts a sound session with The Vinyl Factory Live Radio Show

3pm –4:30pm Artist Amartey Golding screens Chainmail 1 (2016) in conversation with Dancer Solomon Golding & Assistant Curator Katherine Finerty

3:30pm – 4pm Poet Belinda Zhawi, as MA.MOYO, presents South X South East – a poetry and sound set

4pm –5:30pm Artist Phoebe Boswell presents The Lighthouse, an immersive live performance of invited women collectively reading, including Zoé Whitley, Rianna Jade Parker, Jade Jackman, Alexandria Smith, Liv Wynter, Buitumelo Mushekwa, Natalie Nzeyimana, Jade Monserrat, Rasheeda Namuloso, Amahra Spence and Claudette Johnson

5:30pm–6:30pm Project O (a collaboration between Alexandrina Hemsley & Jamila Johnson-Small) present their video Saved (2018)

6:30pm–7pm Performance by Poet Inua Ellams

7pm–7:30pm Live performance by Steel Pan Band New Generation

9pm Live performance by Channel One Sound System

10pm Live performance by Jojo Abot and Bumi Thomas

Image: The Lighthouse by Phoebe Boswell including Zoé Whitley, Rianna Jade Parker, Jade Jackman, Alexandria Smith, Liv Wynter, Buitumelo Mushekwa, Natalie Nzeyimana, Jade Monserrat, Rasheeda Namuloso, Amahra Spence & Claudette Johnson. Performance Documentation, 180 The Strand, 3 October 2019. Courtesy of Prada

WEDNESDAY 2 October
10am – 2am
180 The Strand

All Day Live DJ Sets by The Vinyl Factory Radio, The World’s First Vinyl Only Broadcast Platform with DJ Flight, Jay, Kwake Bass / Dem 1ns, Raj Chaudhari, Shy One and Josey Rebelle

11:30am –12:30pm Designers Grace Wales Bonner & Samuel Ross in Conversation with Curator Elvira Dyangani Ose

12:30pm –2:30pm Designer Rose Nordin presents OOMK’s collaborative publishing practice

2:30pm –4pm Curators Rianna Jade Parker & Aurella Yussuf of ‘Thick/Er Black Lines’ with Writer Derica Shields present a screening of Black British Women/Femme Filmmakers (including Ayo Akingbade, Jessica Ashman, Cecile Emeke, Zinzi Minott, Emily Mulenga, Jenn Nkiru and Yero Timi-Biu)

4pm –6pm Poet Julianknxx screens his new film Roots For A Crown (2019) with a talk and performance by Musicians Thabo & Tawiah

6.30pm – 7pm Singer Bumi Thomas presents Border Native, a live music performance

10pm Live performance by Theaster Gates & Friends

Image: Tremaine Emory in conversation with Director Elvira Dyangani Ose & Theaster Gates at 180 The Strand, 3 October 2019. Courtesy of Prada

CONTRIBUTORS

Abdou Cisse, Alexander Nut, Alexandria Smith, Alex Rita, Amahra Spence, Amartey Golding, Anaïs, Anna Wall, Andrew Ashong, Andrew Hart, Anthony Joseph, Anton Spice, Aurella Yussuf, Ayo Akingbade, BANTUTRONIC, Belinda Zhawi as MA.MOYO, Beverley Bennett, Blaize Henry, Bolanle Tajudeen Buitumelo Mushekwa, Bumi Thomas, Caleb Femi, Cecile Emeke, Channel One Sound System, Cherrie Flava, Chinasa Chukwu, Christian Bravo, Claudette Johnson, Creole Cuts, Darius Mcfarlane, DEBONAIR, Delia Tesileanu, DEM1NS, Derica Shields, DJ Flight, Dozie Kanu, Dublate Pearl, Elijah, Elvira Dyangani Ose, Elvira Vedelago, Emily Mulenga, Em'kal Eyongakpa, Errol Andreson, Femi Ladi, Gabriela Helfet, Gideon Nevele, Grace Wales Bonner, Harris Elliot, Helen Cammock, Inua Ellams, Jacqueline Yu, Jade Jackman, Jade Monserrat, James Jordan Johnson, James Massiah, Jay, Jenn Nkiru, Jessica Ashman, Jojo Abot, Josey Rebelle, Joyce Boswell, Julia Daramy-Williams, Julianknxx, Katherine Finerty, Kevin Morosky, Kwake Bass, Larry Achiampong, Larry Amponsah, Leanne George, Leo Asemota, Liv Wynter, Marion Osieyo, Maxwell Owin, Music for Architecture – Peter Adjaye, Nana Bempah, Nabihah Iqbal, Nástio Mosquito, Natalie Nzeyimana, Nephertiti Oboshie Schandorf, New Generation, Norsicaa, Nyah Clarke, OOMK, Pamela Jikiemi, Phoebe Boswell, Phoebe Collings-James, POCC, POSTSCRIPT, Project O (a collaboration between Alexandrina Hemsley & Jamila Johnson-Small), Rabz Lansiquot, Rago Foot, Raji Rags, Ramone Anderson, Rasheeda Nalumoso, Remi Laudat, Rohan Blair Mangat, Rose Nordin, Rianna Jade Parker, Ruth Sutoyé, Samuel Ross, Shy One, Simnikiwe Buhlungu, Solomon Golding, Swarzy Macaly, Sxwks, Tanya Ramsurrun, Tawiah, Thabo, Theaster Gates, Thick/er Black Lines, Tremaine Emory, Wu-Lu, Yero Timi-Biu, Zaahida Nabagereka, Zinzi Minott, Zezi Ifore, Zoé Whitley, and more.

The Collective Intimacy live programme is curated by The Showroom’s Director Elvira Dyangani Ose with Assistant Curator Katherine Finerty, supported by Development Officer Raúl Muñoz de la Vega.