It’s been over ten days since I’ve updated, and I’ve seen so many incredible exhibitions, which I’ve been gradually sharing on Instagram. These have included Nigerian Modernism at the Tate Modern, The Weight of Being at Two Temple Place, and Chiharu Shiota: Threads of Life, and Yin Xiuzhen: Heart to Heart, both at the Hayward Gallery.
Nigerian Modernism at the Tate Modern
A country I would love to visit, I was drawn to the bright colours featured in many of the pieces featured in this exhibition and I loved learning more about its art. In addition to the rich and vibrant artwork, I appreciated reading all the captions, and loved the response from Ben Enwonwu (1917-1994) on the comparison to Alberto Gracurelli: “I know he was influenced by African sculptures. But I would not be influenced by Giacomell, because he was influenced by my ancestors”. As I contemplate my own artistic response, I question how I can honour these works.
The Weight of Being: Vulnerability, Resilience and Mental Health at Two Temple Place
I was so moved by the first piece, which depicted different signs spray-painted with RIP SENI. Seni’s Law is a UK law enforced in 2022 that mandates transparency and accountability for the use of force in mental health settings. Named after Olaseni (“Seni”) Lewis, who died in 2010 after being disproportionately restrained by 11 police officers while a voluntary patient. Coming straight from work, there was a heaviness to the exhibition. It was particularly interesting to see work by John Wilson McCracken and follow his journey, woven through the exhibition Some of my favourite pieces here include textiles on dusters by art therapist Barbara Long, the depiction of subtle violence of Raksha Patel’s landscape, a project with poetry on plates created with refugees, pieces about fighting against injustices and division, plus extensive interesting sculptural, video and textile work, and self-portraiture. Much food for thought as an Art Psychotherapist.
Yin Xiuzhen: Heart to Heart
As I moved through this exhibition, I reflected on transitions and memories, with the difficulties of letting go of clothes, especially those I still like… whether something that seems practical or a retro prom dress that could be worn in Napoleon Dynamite. I enjoyed the use of suitcases and fabric to make cities, the cementing of clothes, the washing of polluted river ice blocks, the recreation of Chinese traditions through photography and sound, experimental glass and ceramics pieces, the long minibus I wished to crawl into, and the giant heart I could sit within. The transient nature of cities like London speaks to the description of home as “a collection of belongings packed and ready for transport”. Home is where the heart is, yet it is scattered across all corners of the city, where we can travel up to two hours to work or to see friends.
Chiharu Shiota: Threads of Life
This series of installations each created an immersive feeling, more energising at the start, and more sombre at the end. I found the letters extremely moving and shed a tear to those that felt like a message for me. I also found the illustrations impressive, with the sheer volume of them astounding in its discipline.
…Aside from this, and work, I also have been going through my old journal/diary entries from the last five years, picking out warning signs and trying to understand the reality I had been living all those years, to see it for what it was. My current focus on this now also means I am putting more practical creative tasks on the backburner, but I have been making some response art, which I’ll also be sharing on my Instagram, as I still need to finish the piece inspired by Nigerian Modernism and haven’t made a start on the rest. The piece above was inspired by the previous exhibition I saw in The Netherlands of Escher’s work.
Watching: Love is Blind Argentina, Shrinking, Girlfriends, Love on the Spectrum, Megan 2.0 (film)
Reading: The Myth of Normal by Gabor Maté, The Feminist Killjoy Handbook by Sara Ahmed, The Fugitive by Marcel Proust (audiobook), It Begins with You (audiobook), All About Love by bell hooks (audiobook)
Podcasts: What Now? with Trevor Noah
Music: HUMBE, Peso Pluma, The Plot in You, RAYE, Self Esteem
If you’d like to buy some books, please do!
Follow me on instagram: @carminamasoliver
Poet on page and stage. Creator of She Grrrowls. Facilitator. Writer. 