The process
In creating this work at the Uniarts Helsinki’s Theatre Academy in November 2022, I wanted to delve into the archives and representation of BIPOC narratives, which are lacking in the institutions. As a BIPOC student, I have found it difficult to be creative and diverse in a university where the source of creativity and art is white. Bringing my identity as a whole into my studies is crucial but challenging in this school. I have also found it important to witness work in my school that, as a BIPOC person, I can relate to, not just readjust to. I was inspired by the diversity of joy and relatable narratives.
The questions of joy and what I relate to brought me to the concept of “home”. What things make me feel at home? What are the elements? What do I hear or smell? What am I surrounded by? What am I doing there? What would my dream home look like? I was also inspired by stories. Stories I love to tell, stories I love to hear, videos from a childhood and elements that give a sensation of a specific experience.
In a demo of this installation, I formed a living room filled with my archived dreams, memories, and stories that represented my Afro-Finnishness that I felt didn’t have space at the art university. Inspired by Professor Akwugo Emejulu’s talk about “surviving whitespaces: a woman of color activists and the dilemma of solidarity”, I wanted to create a space that should be provided for BIPOCs in a white space such as an art academy.
After that, I took the work further, and with a new working group started to create a reincarnation of the space—feeding it through new artists, new premises, and with a new white dominated art facility and festival, Hangö Teaterträff.
The work has now gotten a third reincarnation at Moving in November, where we took the topics even further: expanding the concept of identity, home, and joy through a more utopian and futuristic approach. What do we really dream of when we have the platform to do so?
A dinner party
I wanted to create a “dream home” including all its functional elements. In this home, I visualized a dinner party where I cook for others. I wanted to learn something practical while the installation took place that would be connected to something from my heritage. I decided to invite my father and our family friend into the space to gradually pass on the skill of cooking Ghanaian food and sharing it with the audience. Gradually, through the installation, they teach me until I can finally cook on my own.
The invited artists: archiving and taking space.
It is very important to me that this space is shared with a community. That is why I wanted to invite BIPOC artists to share the space with me. To rest, eat, create art, or not create art. The only thing I expect from the artists is to attend this dinner and be together as they please. The importance lies in that the artist is invited to a dinner and a space to be together, not expected to do anything. I am also working with the concept of leaving a trace. What traces are we leaving, and in what spaces? I invite the artist and also the audience to consider that they too are leaving a trace.
This space will be created for BIPOC participants but open to anyone to attend. Through this I hope that we all can together discuss: For whom are we creating? What are the stories? Whose mouth does it come from? Who is gaining from it? Who is present? Who can rest in which spaces?
Rest
Last and not least, the topic of rest and nurture framed my work ethics. Challenging my capitalistic method of producing art that I’m used to. Inspired by the project black powernaps founded by artists Navild Acosta and Sosa, which tackles the so-called “sleep-gap” issue where statistics show that Black people in the United States are likely to get less sleep than their white counterparts: “How can we dream if we don’t sleep?” If we can experience art and create art when rested/resting, how would you do it? What would you do? Therefore, I invite my guests to also rest during and after their stay.
In this piece, joy is also an important part of rest. To find a space where you can, for a moment, leave burdens behind. A space where you can embrace joy, connect with people, and find joy in movement and sensory elements.
An encouragement
I encourage not to make these topics and this space a temporary alternative, but a part of longer strategies in our art institutions. I want to emphasize that through my work I do not wish to find any answers, nor search for any “correct” ways to work with intersectionality within art. Through this process I hope to find a variety of tools for myself and for other BIPOC artists.
This space welcomes all <3. However, this piece is created through a BIPOC experience. Let’s all take collective responsibility and give space to the marginalized group this piece celebrates. Please ensure that they get to participate in the installation.
Pay attention to how your actions can affect our space with these guidelines:
- Assume responsibility for your own actions and be mindful of what you ask or comment, regardless of your good intentions. This space’s priority is to give the participants a break from the racism in our daily lives and give space for rest.
- Actively create an atmosphere where safety and wellbeing are priorities. Get to know the focus and theme of the installation and aim to approach the space with those in mind.
- Be aware of your own privileges.
- Respect everyone’s physical and emotional space, listen to others and adapt your behavior if someone indicates that your behavior or words make them feel uncomfortable.
- Respect and don’t make assumptions about other people’s sexuality, gender, body, nationality, ethnicity, religion, values, socio-economic background, ability, or health. Respect pronouns and names.
- Respect people’s opinions, beliefs, conditions, and points of view.
- All forms of harassment, including verbal and non-verbal, are prohibited. Don’t mock, ridicule, disparage, sideline, or humiliate anyone with your words, behavior, or actions.
- No racism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, or fatphobia.
- Intervene if you witness any offensive or harassing behavior. There are two harassment liaison contacts present at all times in the space whom you can talk to if something should occur. Ask the person who was harassed whether they would like help or support.