“Sighting Black Girlhood”

Johannesburg Convening, 2023

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Sighting Black Girlhood is a transnational curriculum and exhibition project collaboratively hosted by RGC and the Centre for Experimental Ethnography (CEE), University of Pennsylvania (UPenn). Circling between Kingston, Johannesburg, Fort Hare and Philadelphia, the course explores what it means to sight, cite and site experiences of Black girlhood in specific locales and across transnational contexts. 

How do discourses around race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality and youth intersect? What are the personal, psychic, spiritual, and economic costs and benefits associated with Black girls dreaming and performing their freedom? 

At the core of the project is an annual exhibition project and curated programme of gatherings, conversations, studio visits, screenings, listening sessions and shared meals. Each year, a different location grounds artistic reflections on Black girl identities, experiences and possibilities. Last year’s programme was hosted by New Local Space (NLS), a contemporary visual-art initiative in Kingston, Jamaica, founded by artist Deborah Anzinger. Participating artists included Chedda and Fisher, Michaella Garrick, Sasha-Kay Nicole Hinds, Oneika Russell and Abigail Sweeney.

From its creative hub at LAPA, a project and residency space in Brixton, Johannesburg, the 2023 convening brings artists, poets, activists and filmmakers into dialogue over an intensive 8-day programme (click here for details). Curated by Dani Bowler, an exhibition of selected as well as newly commissioned works will follow this transnational gathering. Titled Reflections: on Black Girlhood, the exhibition aims to trouble, care-for, play-with and re-imagine Black girlhood, with the participation of artists Haneem Christian, Ruth Seopedi Motau, Thenjiwe Niki Nkosi, Motlhoki Nono, Lindokuhle Sobekwa and Lebohang Tlhako.

Exhibition details to be announced shortly.

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Click here for more information on Sighting Black Girlhood