London, U.K.
// BlindianProject Carnival: Pop-Up + Supperclub + Afterparty //
On Sunday, April 30th, all roads lead to Shoreditch for a melanated Pop-Up, Ugandan-themed Supperclub + Afterparty hosted by the BlindianProject.
Join us as we unite people and encourage them to open their hearts and minds to shifting perceptions and sparking conversations that aren't always possible in a fast-moving, segregated society.
** A portion of the profit from this event will be donated to 32° East, a Ugandan Arts Trust in Kampala, focused on creating and exploring contemporary Ugandan art.**
📆: Sunday, April 30th, 2023
⏰: 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
📍: 46 Great Eastern Street, London, EC2A 3EP
🚊: Old Street, Liverpool Street, Shoreditch High Street
Event Schedule
.png)
Peterborough, U.K.
// Cancelling the Woodpile: Creating Diverse Spaces Pop-Up //
For the past decade, Peterborough has consistently been one of the U.K.'s fastest-growing cities. Despite its growth, many would argue that the city hasn't tapped into the creative potential of its diverse communities.
According to the 2011 census, circa 14% of Peterborough's population identifies as South Asian or Black. Yet, opportunities for people to publicly engage with arts and culture from these communities are almost non-existent.
Peterborough stands at a crossroads. Identified as a priority investment area by Arts Council England, an opportunity exists to transform a city and high street devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Versus waiting for others to make our table, we've transformed two storefronts into creative spaces to inspire the community by positioning arts and culture at its core.
Inspiration
As part of my artist in residency with Metal U.K., this two-day pop-up brought six diverse local artists together for a weekend of arts, culture, and protest. Featuring sounds by DJ Silky D, the experience welcomed guests to enjoy a traditional home-cooked meal with music, art, and dance — the perfect night.
I was minding my business when news of a local councillor using a racist phrase during a live-streamed public meeting crossed my radar.
Cancelling the Woodpile
Jonah Batambuze
Cancelling The Woodpile / 2021
Naturally-felled wood, paint, paper mache, artificial grass
In "Cancelling The Woodpile," naturally-fallen pieces of wood are painted brilliant white, accentuating time, knots, unpredictability, and the twisted journeys these objects face. The installation calls into question our collective fight to end racism and represents the daily interactions and choices we do/don't make in our lives. Inspiration for the installation comes from the racist figure of speech, "N***** in The Woodpile," which was commonly used in pop culture in the late 19th and early 20th centuries — but is yet to die a slow death.
More Than Banter
Jonah Batambuze
More Than Banter/ 2021
Disused car parts, spraypaint
In "More Than Banter," disused car parts are pieced together, creating an installation containing multiple faces. The use of an everyday object that we're all familiar with is significant as it represents white supremacy. Red, White, and Blue are the primary colors of the artwork. Coincidentally, these colors form the palette of the flags representing three countries built on white supremacy and imperialism (The United States of America, France, and England). Two tyres covered with African wax print and Indian khaadi fabric act as seats, while also representing the plundering of natural resources by the west.
Untitled
Jonah Batambuze
Untitled/2021
Onions, Lamb mince, paneer, coriander, canned tomatoes, frozen vegetables, National Keema spice, MDH Karahi paneer masala spice
Traditional home-cooked food is LOVE manifested on a plate. Food nourishes our souls and is essential for survival. In addition, it is the center and the creator of community, seamlessly bringing people of various cultures, races, religions, etc., to the same table.
Despite my Ugandan background and being raised on a diet consisting mainly of samosa's, It took 21-years before my first intimate conversation with a South Asian person. Interestingly, that person later became my wife.
In the beginning, cooking, sharing, and eating traditional food were ways we shared our cultures. As @chellikeshavan once said, "An investment in understanding the origins of another's food tradition is a powerful means of showing love and commitment." And, it wasn't long until I was cooking my own curries.
After 15+ years of following recipes handed down from generations and incorporating my own style, I finally passed my father-in-law's taste test.
I don't proclaim to be the best chef in the world. That isn't the intent of this artwork. Instead, this proves anything is achievable with an open mind and a willingness to embrace what may be seen as slightly different.