Invisible Traumas
Urban Times and GV Art gallery have come together in a momentous collaboration set to explore the tale of scientific traumas via art. The first in the series, which occurred last week, focused on Art and Alzheimer’s.
The second in the series sets to explore the notion of Invisible Traumas. This evening, 1st February, Urban Times will be filming a talk given by Rachel Gadsden; British contemporary visual artist. Gill Lloyd, the special guest for the evening, will also say a few words. Questions will then become open to the floor.
© Rachel Gadsden; Portrait of Thobani Ncapai
In January 2011, Rachel was awarded an International Unlimited London 2012 Cultural Olympiad Commission which gave Rachel the opportunity to launch her Unlimited Global Alchemy project. This allowed Rachel to develop an extraordinary relationship with the Bambanani Group of Khayelitsha Township in Cape Town. Gadsden’s presentation will illustrate how her artwork seeks to externalize the invisible world of those living with HIV/AIDS in South Africa as she attempts to capture the physical sensations of trauma. Having her own unseen disability Rachel will draw upon her personal experience to highlight the challenges that invisible traumas can present but show the importance of focusing on our abilities rather than disabilities.
Rachel Gadsden leading a workshop during residency in Cape Town
Rachel will tell the amazing story of how she began working with the Bambanani group when she had an incredible connection with a body map that she saw at an anthropology museum. On viewing it for the first time Rachel instantaneously felt whoever painted it had a strong sense of common humanity and she made it her objective to track its creator down. The Bambanani group encompasses those who are HIV positive; surviving from this invisible trauma every day. Rachel relates to these survivors; having her own unseen disability, which gives them all a distinct awareness of the present. In her talk, Rachel will go on to explore the challenges that invisible traumas can present but show the importance of focusing on our abilities rather than disabilities. Rachel’s work deals with human fragility and vulnerability; illustrating how having an unseen disability affects you psychologically. The artwork in the Unlimited Global Alchemy project is not about HIV/Aids but rather about survival.
Gill Lloyd is co-director of Artsadmin (London) and has worked with the organisation since 1986, before which she managed production and touring for The People Show. Gill initially worked at Artsadmin as producer on a range of initiatives – particularly projects from South Africa in negotiation with the African National Congress during the period leading to the end of the cultural boycott. She also organised a large cultural festival, Zabalaza, for the ANC in London. Gill has specialist knowledge and interest in Southern African culture and has undertaken extensive South African human rights campaigning activity on behalf of artists, working alongside veteran politician Helen Suzman both pre- and post-apartheid.
Given Gill’s knowledge of the political architecture of South Africa she will go on to explain how politics has affected artists such as those of the Bambanani Group. Perhaps it is the political infrastructure, after all, that has made South Africa most susceptible to the HIV/Aids epidemic (occurring in 18.1% of adults according to Wikipedia).
For the full press release of the event click here.
First in the Trauma series: Art and Alzheimer’s
Reviews
The New Scientist: Self Portraits Of A Declining Brain
Gizmodo: How An Artist Painted His Decline Into Alzheimer’s
Next in the Trauma series: Donate to Science?
Unlimited is principally funded by the Olympic Lottery Distributor and is delivered in partnership between London 2012, Arts Council England, the Scottish Arts Council, Arts Council of Wales, Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the British Council. Unlimited Global Alchemy is produced by Artsadmin.
[...] in the Trauma series: a series set to explore the tale of scientific traumas via art. The focus: Invisible Traumas. Hosted by GV Art at their gallery in Marylebone, London, we were joined by speaker Rachel [...]
[...] Second in the Trauma series: Invisible Traumas [...]