Up date

'Dressed Up' acrylic painting with HLM Costume fabric


Can't belive it but it is actually December. It has been a while but at least not an inactive time. The good news is that AffirmARTive for LAFTA Looked After Fostered and Transracially Adopted, our participatory art project has been up and running for some time now and the group want to continue and to an outcome of touring exhibition with workshops.

Next good thing, I have gained support for Picture This ‘Small Wonders’ Scheme www.picture-this.org.uk for postproduction support to develop Dak’Art footage this means I can have a quality outcome of the work and support with distribution. So, all fantastic so far.

Afo Juba, Irin Ajo

Images from footage of HLM Costume shot by Maryam Fall. My film on the art in creating a Taylor-made costume in Dakar.
At the Market and Final Outcome

Looking back on the Afo Juba, Personal Experience of my trip I still feel envibed, oh is that a word, well that's the feeling so all good the Journey, Irin ajo, introduced me to many that I am keeping in touch with and plans go one to develop the schools link I worked with Hannah More School on my return and we based our project 'Art for Living' around the Dakar documentation that I returned with and edited especially for the schools works. The pupils made fantastic work and the school is keen to be linked with the Ecole HLM in Dakar so am on the plot for that. Also communicating with Maryjam regarding the HLM costume film and with Adama Boye artist at Village des Arts on artist exchange. At the Bristol end it feels different and more difficult to move things on but I am persevering with finding the best way to develop movie and get it seen. Have given three presentation the final on a great success at the A Bond with Spike Island this received a good response with about 35 people attending.
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A month on AffirmArtive news

My last day in Dakar remebered in these two pics I spent the day with Amada. Pictured at 'Village des Art's' People seen by the road waiting for the President to pass, see on our way around the north coastal area visiting OFF exhibitions.
The project for Bristol will now take place having having received affirmartive on the funding for LAFTA workshops. These will take place overthe summer at the St Paul's Learning centre. The I miss Dakar but continue to work on developing projects for the future. Have been in studio making work in relation to 'The HLM Costume' and editing film and R & D documention.

Film project

Today has been such a success Miryam has taken me to the HLM Maché where I chose my fabric for my tigh costume. Miryam was great with the camera even arguing with the occassional reluctant participant who wanted money for being o camera. The best bit was up in the area where hundreds of sewing machines vibrated with the taylors flashing fabrics of every colour and design through the thrashig neddle poit, some costumes where made of beautiful collaborations of textiles, I spent time looking this way ad that truly amazed at all I saw, evetually we left my fabric with a taylor after Miryam filmed him measuring me up and drawing out the pattern to my own design and we then went eat at Miryams boyfriends mums seven of us ate from one large platter. Later we returned to the tatlor to collect my most delightful costume ever. Much of this trip has evolved by one special meeting leading to another and this collaboritve project is the result of such an experience.........WoW yes in Wolof. Last evening I saw a large cockroch in the cupboardad could sleep thinking it may land o my chest in the night thought provoced from reading 26a, a great read to end the long dazzzzzzzzzzzzz

Village des Arts

This is pic of one of the many gardens at the the studios and Adama by her work Must go now as more to do laters
I have just returned from visiting the village des arts and visiting many studios of the 48 artists based there plus had good lunch of local fish yum yum. I met with Adama we want to try and make a project linking women artists, also another project whereby we can exchange I would love to work in a studio there as mango trees and gardens are all around and the atmosphere tres tranquil, and the doors open to fresh air and bird song........ perfect. We Adama and I have the same expereince of working in the community we both work a lot with schools and we will try and link one of the schools where she works with a Bristol school and do a project. I also visitied the British Council here in Dakar and talk about the 2007 projects they have whih would connect well with the Abolution of TransAtlantic Slave Trade events in UK 2007

New Moves

Acid Rain , Bright young Nigerian student of El Anasui who won a prize his other work I have on video very good. Tunis Taiaeb Bel Hadj 'Parading to Peace'
Manuel Barreto video behind this work he is from Guinee Bissau, he has made two viedo pieces in this Biennial this one include Twin Tower explosion, this sculpture infront made of bullets will find name later. I have met with Tunde Adegbola who is running a community radio station from here that links remote areas of Liberia, Seirra Leone, Guinee Bassau which is very interesting to hear about also he has introduced me to Modibo Diawara of the Media Centre Dakar and he has arranged for me to work with the lovely Miryam a second year student on my project which will be a small film. I will move to a new area away from the city centre to enable me to do this and give me a new experience of Dakar. Modibo sent me with Miryam to see the place and its great so move there next Sunday. Lots happening before but all a bit of a blur so will post some pics of work seen and once again apologies if artists names not provided as catalogue not with me and note book in bit of a muddle

Female Artists

There are not so many female artists as one would like to see showing but I have enjoyed much, Péagie Gbaguidi Benin and as mentioned others so some pics here. I wanted to talk with several of the women artists but there is a language problem, so will make do with the very useful catalogue which is weighing a lot as in Fench and English. Have new friend Maggie from Bulgaria married to Nigerian, sent for break with her brother inlaw she speaks little English but we have seen some OFF exhibitions together and have been to beach, put our feet in the sea for the first time here in Senegal. I am moving to a peaceful hotel soon to think about the work I want to make here I have the ideas evolving so may not blog for a few days as I want to meet up with some local contacts to see what is possible. SO BON SOIRE FOR NOW

Up date...

Hi I took my second visit to Goree today, as a friend was going, infact she did not turn up at the ferry, but someone will always find you, so met with artist Omar Diouf whose work in OFF and he also was going to island to visit the seven OFF sites so all well. Some interesting things to see much flotson and jetson (?) work and similar local paintings but found 'Eme' who was listening to Hendrix and gave me a tune on his harmonica. Some great photographic work in huge old colonial building and the island was beautiful with many local families and visitors on the beach. Just to cover more details on pics already posted Installation by El Loko Negro Heads Ghana and sculture by Alfred Lyolo the Congo. Have documented interesting work by Kenyan artist Ingrid Mwangi she does video installation and perfomance, also interesting Amal Kenaway from Egypt. Cool toute a l'heure

Dak'Artssss cé fantastic

Hi, cannot even beginning to tell the storie of all the happenings so far but the programme for the organised events finished yesterday with the visit to Goree Island and I Am hoping to return as that as another thing in itself overwhelming as it was I need to take down the facts. Many artists have left now and my two friends leave for Nigeria tomorrow. Also have done some great market excertions yesterday Amara and had to run the from the market and the guys trying to take us this way and that. so now some pics. On the way to Goree, Junk Mans work The Face of the City, and works by Lo Ndary I'IFAN MUSEE and some works in national gallery. thats it

more pics

There is a lot more to see there are many galleries ane i have many artists on film thats it today as have to edit pics before puting on blog second pic my breakfast ok

SEE ART LIVE ART

Hi all going more than well so far and now I have pics me at conference on Nigeria and Post Modernism and more........ heres me with Nigeria artists

Safe Arrival - Openings

èth May - I had great journey, hqve settled in hotel a met up with many on my list already plus many more. The Opening Ceremony took place at the National Theatre with much pomp the presdent being present. The first exhition opening was at the Musee I,IFAN and there was a great buzz of excitement, lots to do see and talk about and film I managed a quicky chat on film with Lo Ndagy around his work, make arrangements with other arts to meet up later and got into the swell the work fantastic. Dilomprizulike having a new work in good setting. Met some Gambian artist I know. The programme for the week is full. the eve event for opening day being a tail party this was at the cultural centre outside with dancers andrummers to entertain, her I met Dilom and later we went to a meal together so that was pretty well according to plan. I have some great pics to post later. Yesterday another full programme of openings meetings and excitement and more fantastic work to see, Many great artists are here so is great. I met Amara a Nigerian atist showing in the Dak,Art OFF like the frindge and lunched with her and Bisi a curator from Nigeria whom I met in UK also El Anasui and othere artist so I was a bit bowled over. Last night a fashion show and today more with a conference this afternoon and more gatherings. 8th May Have to post this quick qnd return tomorrow to work out how to do pics. great day yesterday lots today

Irin ajo - Journey and thanks

Pictured artwork ‘Waiting for the Bus’ by the Junk Man of Lagos – one of the selected artists showing in Dak’Art

As I reflect on this momentous occasion just before I travel, and short of a chance to run to the podium and thank everyone that I ever met I thank as follows.

I thank my daughter Esther she is my mum, she is the light of my life. I thank my good friend and mentor Mary Evans. I thank the Arts Council for this award and proving me with my Creative Advisors for this project Zoe Shearman and Raimi Gbadamosi.

I thank Zoe for her hard work, support and advice in helping me achieve this award and Raimi for suggesting a preparatory reading list including, Leopold Sedar Senghor father of Negritude and for taking Aime Cesaire’s notebook off the shelf for me at the Kerry James Marshell exhibition earlier this year. I look forward to their ongoing support. Thanks Debbie Thomas, Arts and Development BCC for helping me achieve this award. I thank all those have met and worked with during my nine years in Bristol they have contributed to an invaluable backdrop to my future as an artist. I thank Folake for the the Calling project a truly inspirational opportunity. I thank everyone I know, good friends and supporters, past and present they have helped shape my life.

The show of 87 Contemporary African artists draw work and artists from all of the African continent and from the diaspora some of the artists where showing in the 'Africa Remix' exhibition at the Hayward gallery which I saw last year. I have seen selected artists on www.dakart.org a very helpful site for my plans. I have started my research into the list of artists and am ready to roll. I fly on 4th May.oooh