A groundbreaking exhibition, "Resurgence: Craft Reimagined," is currently captivating audiences at The Gallery at Hackney Downs Studios, running from Friday, March 13, until Thursday, April 2. Curated by Ajahee Sekkm-Miles, this exhibition brings together a diverse group of multidisciplinary artists – Shayla Marshall, Favour J, Sola Olulode, and Tyreis Holder – whose practices boldly re-contextualize traditional craft within contemporary artistic discourse. The show serves as a vital platform for amplifying the narratives and artistic expressions of the global majority, offering profound insights into identity, heritage, and the evolving definition of art itself.
The Genesis of "Resurgence": Reclaiming and Redefining Craft
The concept behind "Resurgence: Craft Reimagined" emerges from a critical moment in the art world, where the arbitrary distinctions between "fine art" and "craft" are increasingly being dismantled. Historically, craft traditions, particularly those rooted in non-Western cultures or associated with domesticity, have been relegated to a secondary status, often undervalued in academic and commercial art institutions. This exhibition directly challenges such hierarchies, asserting the intellectual rigor, artistic merit, and profound cultural significance inherent in craft practices.
The curatorial vision, spearheaded by Ajahee Sekkm-Miles, is deeply rooted in archival research and the understanding that contemporary cultural expression is inextricably linked to historical traditions. Sekkm-Miles emphasizes that "reimagining craft means relearning history, seeking references, and understanding how this information fuels contemporary culture." This perspective underscores the exhibition’s commitment to showcasing how ancestral knowledge and traditional techniques can serve as potent catalysts for new generations of artists, fostering a tangible evolution of heritage and creative dreams. The exhibition aims to bridge cultural traditions with contemporary artistic expression, thereby connecting Afro-diasporic communities worldwide and fostering environments that champion authenticity, collective freedom, and a reimagined understanding of art’s role in the world.
The choice of Hackney Downs Studios, a vibrant creative hub in London, further reinforces the exhibition’s accessibility and community-focused ethos. London, a melting pot of cultures and a significant center for contemporary art, provides an ideal backdrop for an exhibition that champions diverse voices and challenges established norms. The timing, running through late March and early April, allows for ample public engagement and dialogue during a period of heightened cultural activity.
Spotlight on the Artists: Weaving Narratives of Identity and Heritage
The four featured artists in "Resurgence: Craft Reimagined" each bring a unique approach to the exhibition’s central theme, demonstrating the breadth and depth of contemporary craft reimagined through a Black lens. Their works span mixed media, sculpture, textiles, performance, and poetry, creating an immersive and multi-layered experience for viewers.
Shayla Marshall: World-Building through Mixed Media
Shayla Marshall, a multidisciplinary artist splitting her time between Miami and London, utilizes mixed media to construct intricate worlds that reimagine histories and futures. Her practice is deeply informed by her upbringing in Miami’s culturally rich, predominantly Black communities, where self-expression was not just encouraged but celebrated. This early immersion in a vibrant cultural landscape instilled in her a profound appreciation for identity and narrative.
Marshall’s artistic journey took a pivotal turn after relocating to California, where she encountered a different societal perception of Blackness. This experience prompted a rigorous interrogation of identity, place, and perception, which now forms the bedrock of her work. Rooted in storytelling, Marshall’s pieces draw on multiple timelines, inviting viewers into richly layered narratives of Black life. Her inspirations, as she shares, include "Ghetto Futurism in Black Culture, time, and Zora Neale Hurston." Ghetto Futurism, a cultural aesthetic that blends elements of science fiction, fantasy, and Afrocentrism with Black urban experiences, provides a framework for envisioning alternative futures. The concept of "time" itself becomes a malleable medium in her hands, allowing for a fluid exploration of past, present, and future. Zora Neale Hurston, the iconic Harlem Renaissance writer and anthropologist, serves as a literary ancestor, her ethnographic work and celebration of Black vernacular culture resonating deeply with Marshall’s commitment to authentic storytelling.
Marshall emphasizes the critical importance for artists to "lean into education as a way of evolving your creative practice." She posits that both artists and humans possess inherent limitations in their perspectives and tools, necessitating a perpetual student mindset. This philosophy has demonstrably expanded her own practice, opening avenues to new ways of thinking and artistic possibilities. Her work in "Resurgence" exemplifies this ethos, presenting pieces that are not only aesthetically compelling but also intellectually engaging, prompting viewers to reconsider established historical narratives and envision new ones.
Favour J: Sculpting Public Memory and Dialogue
Favour Jonathan, known artistically as Favour J, is a multidisciplinary artist from Benin City, Nigeria, now based in London. Her sculptural practice is a profound exploration of identity, memory, and cultural legacy, meticulously rooted in historical research and storytelling. Jonathan primarily works in sculpture, using this tangible medium to honor significant figures from Black African and Black British history. Her objective is to utilize public art as a catalyst for dialogue, remembrance, and connection, inviting audiences to perceive history not as a remote subject but as a dynamic, living force that continuously shapes contemporary identity and inspires collective memory.
For Favour J, "reimagining craft" means observing and integrating the creativity and traditions of one’s culture and heritage into everyday life. This involves a process of re-evaluation, breaking down traditional meanings to imbue them with contemporary functionality. She advocates for practicing one’s culture even within the bustling environment of London, perhaps by infusing traditional objects, shapes, patterns, or materials into household items, clothing, furniture, or decor. This deliberate integration serves as a tangible link to heritage, maintaining a close connection to one’s roots. This approach highlights the active, lived dimension of craft, transcending mere aesthetic appreciation to become a part of daily existence and cultural continuity.
Among her current inspirations, Favour J cites "Traditional medicine and healing practices and what nature has to offer." This indicates a deep connection to holistic well-being and indigenous knowledge systems, which often embody centuries of practical craft and symbiotic relationships with the environment. Her work, therefore, not only memorializes history but also subtly points towards sustainable and culturally resonant ways of living. A crucial skill for artists, in her view, is "Learning to put as much care into themselves as they do into their practice." She emphasizes the vital importance of looking after one’s health, body, and mind to sustain artistic production, cautioning against the long-term damage of burnout. This holistic perspective on artistic practice underscores the interconnectedness of the artist’s well-being with the quality and longevity of their creative output.
Sola Olulode: Intimacy, Textile Craft, and Nigerian Heritage
Sola Olulode, a British-Nigerian artist based in London, delves into themes of materiality and intimacy through her unique fusion of textile craft and figurative mixed media painting. Her work seeks to construct a "spacetime of care and tenderness," creating environments where her figures can exist shielded from the harsh realities of the world, fostering relationships defined by warmth and tactility. This pursuit of sanctuary and gentle connection is a hallmark of her distinctive aesthetic.
Nigerian textile craft forms the cornerstone of Olulode’s practice. She ingeniously combines resistance dyeing methods, heavily influenced by Adire cloth making, with figurative mixed media painting. This synthesis results in vibrant scenes that encapsulate joy and tenderness, pushing the boundaries of traditional textile art. For Olulode, reimagining craft is fundamentally about keeping these historical processes alive while simultaneously exploring novel applications. She views her practice as an "exploration of different traditions that have influenced my practice in a way that also reflects my upbringing and the West African and European histories I’ve studied." This experimental approach, blending diverse styles, becomes a playful means for her to express her personal background and solidify her sense of self. It speaks to the dynamic nature of cultural identity, shaped by both ancestral legacy and lived experience.
Her current inspirations, "Love songs, Black women, and transformation," reveal the emotional and social undercurrents of her art. Love songs provide a soundtrack of tenderness and connection, while Black women represent strength, beauty, and resilience—often the subjects of her tender portrayals. Transformation speaks to both personal growth and the artistic process of transmuting materials and traditions into new forms. Olulode advises artists to cultivate patience, emphasizing the importance of taking time to learn, refine one’s craft, and discover individual creative uniqueness. She extends this patience to career goals, recognizing that "there isn’t a rush, it’s good to consider the many different pathways there are for artists. No particular formula is going to work for everyone." Her counsel—to believe in oneself, take time, and enjoy the journey—offers a powerful counter-narrative to the often-pressurized contemporary art market.
Tyreis Holder: Interdisciplinary Explorations of Diaspora and Ancestry
Tyreis Holder, an interdisciplinary artist, poet, visual storyteller, and community arts practitioner hailing from South London with Jamaican and St. Vincent heritage, brings a multifaceted perspective to "Resurgence." Her practice is rich in diverse mediums, including installation, textiles, performance, poetry, sculpture, and sound, all coalescing around profound explorations of selfhood, Black Caribbean British identity within the diaspora, identity politics, queer identity, generational/ancestral healing, heritage, archive, and the intricate relationship between mind and colonial spaces.
For Holder, reimagining craft is a profound act of honoring tradition and those who came before, while simultaneously engaging with it through a contemporary lens shaped by perspective, audience, and privilege. She articulates that the core shift in craft traditions, passed down through generations, lies in the ability to introduce these practices into new spaces, influenced by socio-political changes, all while embedding one’s unique voice through subject, material, or process. "To reimagine is not to replace, but to listen," she states, emphasizing the importance of understanding one’s place within the lineage—both in relation to ancestors and in responsibility to future generations. Holder places significant value on allowing ancestors to guide the creative process, recognizing this spiritual connection as the vital thread that has preserved heritage and craft across time. This perspective imbues her work with a deep sense of historical continuity and spiritual resonance.
Holder finds inspiration in "The Sun Shining, Jill Scott, and Kerry James Marshall." The simple beauty of the sun, the soulful artistry of musician Jill Scott, and the masterful narrative painting of Kerry James Marshall collectively fuel her creative spirit, reflecting a blend of everyday beauty, cultural reverence, and artistic excellence. The singular skill she believes every artist needs to develop is "Learning to surrender to the journey of the creative process." This advice speaks to the unpredictable, often challenging, yet ultimately rewarding nature of artistic creation, advocating for a trusting embrace of the unknown.
Ajahee Sekkm-Miles: Curating Grounding and Collective Freedom
Ajahee Sekkm-Miles, the visionary curator of "Resurgence: Craft Reimagined," is a Brooklyn-born, London-based nomadic cultural arts curator, producer, and multidisciplinary artist. Her career is dedicated to amplifying the narratives of the global majority, a term that intentionally centers the experiences and voices of non-Western, non-white populations often marginalized in mainstream discourse. Sekkm-Miles’s practice is rooted in care, culture, and critical imagination, effectively bridging archival research, cultural traditions, and contemporary artistic expression to forge connections within Afro-diasporic communities worldwide. She is committed to building inclusive, transformative environments that champion authenticity, grounding, collective freedom, and fundamentally reimagine how and why art exists in the world.
Her philosophy on reimagining craft, as previously noted, is deeply historical: "To me, reimagining craft means relearning history, seeking references, and understanding how this information fuels contemporary culture. We cannot envision a future where the past is not considered." Sekkm-Miles believes that by honoring and allowing history and tradition to guide us, new generations become catalysts for continuous world-building. For her, holding onto heritage through craft and creation represents a "tangible evolution of the dreams of our ancestors," a direct link between past aspirations and future realities.
Sekkm-Miles’s current inspirations are eclectic and culturally resonant: "SAINT HERON; BLKNWS: Terms and Conditions and Singeli." SAINT HERON refers to Solange Knowles’s multidisciplinary creative agency, known for its innovative approach to art, music, and design, often celebrating Black artistry. BLKNWS: Terms and Conditions likely references Arthur Jafa’s critically acclaimed video work, which explores Black identity and experience through powerful montages. Singeli, a high-energy electronic dance music genre from Tanzania, speaks to the vibrant, dynamic, and often overlooked contemporary cultural expressions emerging from the African continent. This diverse array of influences highlights her expansive understanding of culture and her commitment to showcasing narratives beyond conventional boundaries.
For aspiring curators, Sekkm-Miles offers a crucial piece of advice: "Not overintellectualising people’s livelihoods. Many times, experiences are simply meant to happen and be felt in the moment. The ‘deeper meaning’ lies within the ordinariness of it all." This statement is a powerful call for authenticity and accessibility in curatorial practice, urging a focus on the lived experience and inherent value of art rather than imposing overly academic or detached interpretations. It reflects her overarching commitment to creating spaces that are grounded, authentic, and truly connect with audiences.
Broader Implications and Impact of "Resurgence: Craft Reimagined"
"Resurgence: Craft Reimagined" is more than just an art exhibition; it is a significant cultural statement with far-reaching implications. Firstly, it actively contributes to the decolonization of art spaces and discourse. By centering Black artists and their interpretations of craft, the exhibition challenges Eurocentric notions of artistic value and highlights the richness of global cultural traditions. This aligns with a growing movement in the art world to address historical imbalances and promote greater equity and representation. Data from various art market reports consistently show an underrepresentation of Black artists in major galleries and museums, making platforms like "Resurgence" crucial for visibility and critical recognition.
Secondly, the exhibition redefines the boundaries of "craft" itself. The artists’ innovative use of textiles, mixed media, sculpture, and performance blurs the lines between traditional craft techniques and contemporary artistic expression. This re-evaluation elevates craft from a perceived "minor art" or utilitarian practice to a sophisticated and intellectually rigorous form of artistic inquiry. It underscores the idea that materials and techniques, regardless of their historical classification, can be powerful vehicles for complex ideas and profound emotional resonance. This evolving definition of craft resonates with current trends in the global art market, which has seen a resurgence of interest in artisanal practices and handmade objects, often fetching significant prices.
Thirdly, the exhibition fosters vital dialogue around identity, heritage, and memory. Each artist’s work is deeply personal yet universally resonant, inviting viewers to reflect on their own cultural connections and the role of history in shaping contemporary life. The focus on ancestral wisdom, diasporic experiences, and the reclamation of narratives provides a powerful educational component, encouraging audiences to explore the rich tapestry of Black cultures and their contributions to global art. This is particularly impactful in a city like London, with its diverse population and ongoing conversations about post-colonial identities and multiculturalism.
Finally, "Resurgence: Craft Reimagined" serves as an inspirational beacon for emerging artists, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds. By showcasing established and rising talents who are successfully navigating and reshaping the art world, the exhibition demonstrates the myriad pathways available for creative expression. The artists’ candid advice on education, self-care, patience, and surrendering to the creative process offers invaluable guidance, fostering a supportive and realistic vision of artistic careers. The exhibition’s success signals a growing appetite for authentic, culturally rich, and thought-provoking art that challenges conventions and celebrates diversity.
As "Resurgence: Craft Reimagined" continues its run at The Gallery at Hackney Downs Studios, it stands as a testament to the enduring power of craft, reimagined and revitalized through the lens of contemporary Black artistry. It is an essential viewing for anyone interested in the future of art, cultural identity, and the ongoing dialogue between tradition and innovation.
