Alberta Whittle
ABOUT THE WORK
For Art Night 2021 Alberta Whittle presented a major new commission taking the voice of the River Thames as its starting point. Working with science fiction writer Ama Josephine Budge, Whittle’s commission looks at colonial histories, police brutality and imagined futures offering time and space for healing and reset.
The work manifests as a new film, Holding the Line: a refrain in two parts and as a performance, DIS- A lesson in Reversal or Unlearning, which took place at Two Temple Place, London on 9 July.
In connection with this new commission, Creating dangerously (we-I insist!) groups together HOLDING THE LINE: a refrain in two parts with existing film works Business as usual: hostile environment (a REMIX) and RESET, as a trilogy of films. This trilogy was presented with partners at Platfform 2 with Peak, at Abergavenny Station in Wales; at CCA, Derry-Londonderry and at KLA ART, in Uganda.
Holding the Line: a refrain in two parts was screened as part of our online programme, 18 June – 20th June + as part of our marathon screening on Thursday 15th July.
Programme
Holding the Line: a refrain in two parts, 18 – 20 June, Online
Creating dangerously (we-I insist!), Film screenings, Platfform 2 with Peak, Abergavenny Station, 18 June-17 July
Creating dangerously (we-I insist!), Film screenings, CCA, Derry, 6 July- 17 July
DIS- A lesson in Reversal or Unlearning, performance, Two Temple Place, London, 9 July
Creating dangerously (we-I insist!), Film screenings, KLA ART, Uganda, 17 July
Commissioned by Art Night, in partnership with New Hall Art Collection, Cambridge; Peak, Abergavenny, CCA Derry and KLA ART produced by 32° East, Uganda.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Alberta Whittle (b.1980, Bridgetown Barbados) lives and works in Glasgow. Whittle’s practice-led research involves performance, writing, digital collage and video installation. Selected solo and group shows including Dundee Contemporary Arts, (2019), 13th Havana Biennial (2019), GoMA, Glasgow (2019), The Showroom, London (2018), National Art Gallery of the Bahamas (2018), RAW Material, Dakar (2018), FADA Gallery, Johannesburg (2018) and at the Johannesburg Pavilion at the 56th Venice Biennale, Venice (2015). Over 2021, Alberta will be sharing new work as part of British Art Show 9, Liverpool Biennial, business as usual : hostile environment at Glasgow Sculpture Studios and Right of Admission at the University of Johannesburg. In 2022 she will be representing Scotland at the 59th Venice Biennale.