Join artist Alberta Whittle for this SUPERLUX workshop that considers how artists can respond to urgent political issues such as the Windrush Scandal and the effects of the UK Home Office’s ‘hostile environment’ policy, and the layers of history that led to these.

“The ‘hostile environment’ policy (which the Government now refers to as the ‘compliant environment’ policy) refers to a range of measures aimed at identifying and reducing the number of immigrants in the UK with no right to remain. Many of these were introduced by the Immigration Acts of 2014 and 2016, and include measures seeking to restrict illegal immigrants renting property in the UK, driving, having bank accounts and accessing benefits and free healthcare.”

House of Lords Library Briefing paper, June 2018

Born in Barbados and currently resident in Glasgow, Alberta Whittle is an artist, researcher and educator. Her practice is motivated by the desire to work collectively towards ‘radical self-love’. Informed by diasporic conversations, she considers radical self-love a key method in decolonisation for people of colour to battle anti-blackness. Her practice involves choreographing interactive installations, using film, sculpture and performance as site-specific artworks in public and private spaces.

The workshop has been devised with the specific context of Helmsdale in mind and will begin with a presentation of a selection of Alberta’s recent video works and an introduction to her practice. This will be followed by some movement work, a collective reading of a text selected by Alberta (Kumina by the late Barbadian poet and academic Kamau Brathwaite) and some writing exercises for the group. Introducing a range of sources related to healing, breath and hauntings, participants will consider the potential for scores to become ‘strategies for unlearning’.

Please wear comfortable clothes. We want to support people of all abilities. If you require any modifications and support in order to access this workshop, please let us know.

Programme

Alberta Whittle, sorry, not sorry, 2018, video, 6 mins 24 sec

Alberta Whittle, what sound does the black atlantic make, 2019, video, 12 mins 30 sec

Alberta Whittle, a study in vocal intonation, 2018, video, 8 mins 25 sec

Programmed in partnership with Lux Scotland