2/6/19.
Her work is about black identity, creativity, politics and the people of African diaspora themes. Make visible narratives that otherwise go unrecorded.
I need to be able to see myself. We need to feel we belong in those shared spaces. Telling stories of the black experiences that are everyday and extraordinary, are what I'm here to do. Listen to people, families, past, books.
Audience is central - works needs an audience like a theatre does (she's a former theatre set designer).
People bring their own stories into the art gallery space. Many sets of stories collide in the room, using the work like a conversation piece. The world would be a better place if people, especially men, listened to women.
Black Women - we are just ordinary - not sexy, dangerous, or heroic or tragic.
Department stores and museums (invented at the same time) - we perambulate through beautifully lit spaces. In museums everything belongs to us, but you can't touch it. In department stores nothing belongs to you until you buy it, but you can touch everything. This influences the taking in of culture.
In the 1980s Himid had to argue there was such a thing as a black artist. Himid was told black people don't make art.
Black people were seen on the street or in hospitals but not elsewhere. Black people were only on tv or in newspapers if something dangerous happened.
She worries about whether her art does what she wants it to - even now. Not many young black people go to art school. Their parents don't understand art, especially how it can lead to a career. Younger curators, editors, museums are what is needed to build on changes.
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