Tahera Aziz: [re]locate
The tragic events surrounding the racially motivated murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence, who was stabbed to death while waiting for a bus in 1993, are revisited at the University of Chichester's Otter Gallery from 9 October to 6 December.
The exhibition presents a multi-channel sound installation developed by London-based visual artist and educator Tahera Aziz, taking the notion of the daily routine of waiting at the bus stop as its starting point.
Visitors are encouraged to place themselves in the position of 'witness' and generate their own mental images of events as they experience the installation – a sonic reconstruction which provides a mechanism for them to engage with the complex and multi-layered narratives associated with the case.
The installation explores the disruption of the everyday to bring the murder to the foreground, highlighting detailed elements that have particular resonance. The work is part of the process involved in struggling to preserve the memory of the Stephen Lawrence case - which has had a deep impact in public life and remains relevant 22 years on - whilst offering new insights.
Aziz has used transcripts from the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry report to build up a picture of what happened on the evening of his death. She has worked with a group of actors to develop the dialogue, and a field-recording artist and sound engineer to experiment with simultaneous multi-channel recording and audio compositional techniques.
Aziz, an academic at London South Bank University, has had a longstanding creative and political interest in identity, migration and racism. Over the years she has produced photo-based and installation work that explores how wider socio-political issues or events can impact on the individual to shape their experiences and their sense of self and belonging.
Events
There will be a Meet the Artist session with Tahera Aziz on Wednesday 14 October and Friday 27 November from 12.30-1.30pm. In addition, performance poet Dean Atta will recite his poetry about Stephen Lawrence's murder on Monday 30 November from 12noon-2pm. The event will be followed by followed by a Q&A session at which Atta and Tahera Aziz will be present. For full details visit Events & Workshops.
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Learning Project
An accompanying learning project has been organised by the University's Access and Outreach team and the Otter Gallery, supported by the Education department.
It addresses a younger generation who may not have heard of Stephen Lawrence, and with its intention to raise awareness is particularly targeted at local secondary schools and sixth form colleges as well as primary and secondary teachers.
The experience of visiting this exhibition, with its engaging sound installation, informative displays alongside pre-visit INSET training sessions and follow-up discussions, will provide students from years 9-13 with an invaluable opportunity to participate in a range of citizenship and diversity activities throughout the sessions.