Sonya Dyer considers the key challenges facing mid-career artists and makers in this essay written in response to Pivotal Moments, the conference she organised in September 2018 in collaboration with the SPACE-led professional development programme London Creative Network.
Sonya Dyer considers the key challenges facing mid-career artists and makers in this essay written in response to Pivotal Moments, the conference she organised in September 2018 in collaboration with the SPACE-led professional development programme London Creative Network.
London-based artist Onyeka Igwe has mined colonial-era archives for three new films inspired by all-women protests against British rule in west Africa, currently showing together in the solo exhibition ‘No Dance, No Palaver’, in Hawick, Scotland. She discusses the spectre of the ‘colonial gaze’ and the ethics of archive research with Sonya Dyer.
Lubaina Himid has approached the fanfare surrounding her Turner Prize win with characteristic low-key charm and generosity. Sonya Dyer hails her influence and achievements and hopes she will now be properly recognised as a contemporary artist making vital work today.
The recent ‘What Should White Culture Do? Art, Politics, Race’ brought academics and artists together for a day-long symposium at the Royal College of Art. Sonya Dyer contends that, judging by the approach of some of those talking at the event, the answer to the question is, ‘Much more than this’.
To coincide with Soul of a Nation at Tate Modern, US writer Claudia Rankine presented a reading from her new play, which explores racism in the art world and beyond. Sonya Dyer found it a powerful vehicle for exploring the intersections of capitalism, race, empathy and resistance – particularly in light of the Dana Schutz Whitney Biennial controversy and a renewed focus on depictions of the Black body.
As Washington DC prepares for the 20 January presidential inauguration and the rest of the world is gripped/appalled by the latest predictably narcissistic Donald Trump Twitter outburst, London-based artist Sonya Dyer – who was on a residency in Nebraska during the election – reflects on her US experience and considers what the new era means for art and artists.
Programmed in relation to the current Ellen Gallagher exhibition at Tate Modern, the Afrofuturism’s Others seminar provided an enticing introduction to this cultural aesthetic. Artist and curator Sonya Dyer reports.
Directed by artist, curator and writer Sonya Dyer, the Artists and curators talking programme of practice-led discussions on hospitality, space and contemporary art making, provided much food for thought. Here, Sonya Dyer explores some of the issues and outcomes.
Sonya Dyer reflects on the three core concerns that came out of the ‘Artists and curators talking’ programme – collaboration, commonwealth and community.
Sonya Dyer reports from ‘Structure and Space’ the final event in the Artists and curators talking series, held at Wysing Arts Centre in Cambridgeshire.
Sonya Dyer reports from ‘Hospitality’ the third event in the Artists and curators talking series, held at East Street Arts: Union 105 in Leeds, and asks ‘What is the relationship between hospitality and intimacy?’.
Sonya Dyer reports from the second event of the series, which confronted the difficulties faced by artists from outside the EU coming to work in Britain. Artists Sinead O’Donnell (UK) and Poshya Kakl (Iraq) used Skype to perform an action with the Cardiff audience, bridging the gap between ‘here’ and ‘there’ – the liminal space.
Sonya Dyer reports from the first Artists and curators talking event – Neighbourhoods and Neighbourliness – which explored the landscape and conditions for artists and curators working directly with communities.
A-n and Axis are launching a new programme of dynamic, practice-led discussions on hospitality, space and contemporary art making, researched and directed by artist, curator and writer Sonya Dyer. Here, she sets out her thinking for the programme.
It’s great to have critical writing by Sonya Dyer on the Mobile Conference in the May issue of a-n Magazine, but can I correct some inaccuracies in her coverage?
Peckham Space is open to continuing the debate on Mobile Conference initiated by Sonya Dyer in a-n Magazine (Debate, May 2009).
Sonya Dyer responds to the Mobile Conference event at Peckham Space, 15 March
Sonya Dyer explores Karen Mirza and Brad Butler’s collaborative practice as artist filmmakers.
Sonya Dyer on the development of Suki Chan’s practice.
Sonya Dyer’s publication questions assumptions about non-white artists, curators and administrators that shape the current diversity landscape, and suggests alternative ways forward.
Published this month is the fourth in the a-n Research paper series – presenting and distributing across our wide constituency – Sonya Dyer’s Boxed in: how cultural diversity policies constrict black artists1
Our regular selection of shows to see around the UK, including a major retrospective of Bridget Riley at the Southbank Centre, London and a new video installation by the ZouZou Group at Ikon, Birmingham.
Jamboree 2018 was a gathering of artists and curators at Dartington Estate near Totnes at the end of June. We were blessed with an incredible site and amazing weather, which was especially welcome when taking part in the many walks […]
The national programme, which this year is delivered in partnership with Wysing Arts Centre, Eastside Projects, Iniva, S1 Artspace, Spike Island, and Studio Voltaire, provides learning for artists over a ten-month period.
