"Not only was it my intent to convey to the audience my desire in reconnecting and seeking a reunion to the roots of my ancestors but to study the artefact as one of the extremely few pieces in the musuem created by a person not of European decent. I pressed my fingers to the glass to try and be as close to it as possible...
The audience's reactions varied from stand offish and awkward but also interested and intrigued. Some people would walk in to the room to see me before walking straight out. The room being quite small, made the enviroment feel very intimate and created a closeness between me and any group or individual that entered. This would mostly make individuals feel uncomfortable with just the two of us in the room.
I feel as if the understanding of the transatlantic slave trade still having a strong impact to black people today is something which makes most people of European decent feel quite awkward to discuss in the presence of us... and awareness to the negitive personal experiences rooted in their racial differences."
The audience's reactions varied from stand offish and awkward but also interested and intrigued. Some people would walk in to the room to see me before walking straight out. The room being quite small, made the enviroment feel very intimate and created a closeness between me and any group or individual that entered. This would mostly make individuals feel uncomfortable with just the two of us in the room.
I feel as if the understanding of the transatlantic slave trade still having a strong impact to black people today is something which makes most people of European decent feel quite awkward to discuss in the presence of us... and awareness to the negitive personal experiences rooted in their racial differences."
"I wonder if it was because they were kind of frightened to see us so still sitting there. The fact that we were real people but people they couldn't interact with... I think they jumped when they saw us because they couldn't get any explanation to their fear. I overheard some people saying, 'theres more of them down there', this made me feel weird and like an object. I wonder if they made this connection because of the colour of our skin or our clothing."
"I was placed on the alcove built by the Russell-Cotes family which was inspired by the Moorish palace of Alhambra after their travels to Spain and visit to Granada. In the space sits a sculpture of a Moorish figure, with black skin tone and wearing a white clothing that covers his head and shoulders. The nameless figure became my mirror as I stood in front of him. During the performance I was constantly questioning, re-questioning his identity and what he became after the Moorish figure was taken during the Spanish armada.
I began thinking about the figure in relation to myself and my identity... In this moment, it was almost as if I was having a conversation not only with the sculpture but also questioning myself, I wanted to know more and as a result, I almost started formulating my own answers because of the fact that there was no response from the figure."
I began thinking about the figure in relation to myself and my identity... In this moment, it was almost as if I was having a conversation not only with the sculpture but also questioning myself, I wanted to know more and as a result, I almost started formulating my own answers because of the fact that there was no response from the figure."