ROOT-ed Zine: Retrospect, Reality, Reform
ROOT-ed Zine: Retrospect, Reality, Reform
7 October 2022 – 22 January 2023
Members’ preview: Thu 6 Oct, 5–6pm
Public preview: Thu 6 Oct, 6–8pm
The Tetley
This autumn, The Tetley is delighted to present Retrospect, Reality, Reform, the first institutional exhibition curated by ROOT-ed Zine. ROOT-ed Zine’s co-founders and collaborators Amber Akaunu (she/her) and Fauziya Johnson (she/her) are artist-curators who established the magazine and social platform in 2017, with a commitment to supporting Black, Asian and People of Colour creatives that are from, or based in north west England.
For their exhibition at The Tetley they have selected new and existing work in a variety of media by early-career artists from, or based in, the north of England. Four artists have been commissioned to examine the ideas of retrospect, reality and reform, offering a platform for reflective, unfiltered and liberating perspectives from artists of colour. The exhibition includes work by Yasmin Ali (she/her), Liverpool-based filmmaker and photographer; Simone Yasmin (she/her), Leeds-based writer, spoken word artist and vocal soul; Hanna Gwynn (she/her), comic artist and illustrator based in Liverpool; and Linnet Panashe Rubaya (she/her), Leeds-based figurative artist.
The exhibition also invites artists to contribute to a free limited edition zine published towards the end of the show, amplifying the practices of more Northern artists and providing a platform for them to respond to the work on display. This will sit within a reading room alongside an archive of ROOT-ed Zines, dating back to 2018.
Retrospect, Reality, Reform responds to numerous contemporary social, political, economical and environmental issues that have encouraged and also forced a lot of people to pause and reflect on the past, the present and the future. ROOT-ed stands for Revolution of our Time, a statement and commitment to change which remained just as urgent and relevant during the chaos of the last few years, as Akaunu and Johnson witnessed oppression of silenced and marginalised communities. Through their practice of platforming, collaborating and archiving, ROOT-ed Zine hope to preserve their community knowledge in order to disrupt institutional cycles and make long-standing and authentic change.
ROOT-ed Zine: Retrospect, Reality, Reform is part of The Tetley Jerwood Commissions programme, supported by Jerwood Arts’ Development Programme Fund.
Press Visits and Enquiries
For enquiries, images or to arrange a visit please contact Hannah Keating, Marketing and Communications Manager: hannah.keating@thetetley.org / 07800797245
NOTES TO EDITORS
About ROOT-ed
ROOT-ed Zine is a magazine and social platform, dedicated to supporting Black, Asian and PoC creatives that are from, or are based within north west England. They release a new issue every quarter and are dedicated to highlighting topics that concern taboos within their community, such as interpersonal and social issues including ethnic hair, mental health and QTIPOC. They aim to continue conversing around these topics via online and offline platforms to ensure they engage with all the experiences and perspectives of Black, Asian and PoC.
Outside of the pages of the zine, they explore topics in formats of in-person events and workshops focusing to deepen discussions and to build on existing relationships with their network. They are able to connect with our community effectively because they’re their own audience. ROOT-ed’s presence is deliberately informal which dismantles classist expectations of artist language and highlights the imbalance of access and how Black, Asian and PoC creatives navigate this.
Jerwood Arts is the leading independent funder dedicated to supporting early-career UK artists, curators and producers to develop and thrive. They enable transformative opportunities for individuals across art forms, supporting imaginative awards, bursaries, fellowships, projects, programmes and commissions. They are committed to supporting artistic freedom of expression and being as inclusive as possible across all their work. They present new work and bring people from across the arts together through exhibitions and events at Jerwood Space, London, as well as across the UK and online. Jerwoodarts.org
About The Tetley
The Tetley is a pioneering centre for contemporary art located in the stunning art deco headquarters of the former Tetley Brewery. From the heart of Leeds’ South Bank, The Tetley creates a platform for amazing emerging artists, presents breathtaking free exhibitions and helps communities and young people in Leeds find their creative voice.
The Tetley is supported by Arts Council England, Tetley’s Beers, Leeds City Council and Garfield Weston Foundation.
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