Exhibition: Curators’ Series #8. All Of Us Have A Sense Of Rhythm

DRAF, London, United Kingdom
05 Jun 2015 - 01 Aug 2015

Zak Ové, Culture Remix, 2013. Courtesy the artist.

All Of Us Have A Sense Of Rhythm is the eighth edition of the DRAF Curators’ Series, with guest curator Christine Eyene (France/Cameroon).

With: Larry Achiampong, Younes Baba-Ali, Julien Bayle, John Cage, Ayoka Chenzira, Em’kal Eyongakpa, Jon Hopkins, Langston Hughes, Evan Ifekoya, Zak Ové, Michel Paysant, Anna Raimondo, Robin Rhode, David Shrigley, William Titley.

The exhibition presents Eyene’s original research into rhythmic sources in performative, material and immaterial productions within African traditional and contemporary cultures. This first exploration of this essential lineage encompasses dance, avant-garde composition, popular music and subcultures and rhythmic video editing through the twentieth century to the present day.

It takes as a starting point the percussive Bikutsi of 1940s Cameroon, and traces the often-overlooked collaborations of modernist composer John Cage with African-American choreographers. From the rise of popular dance subcultures assimilating black music in England (such as 1960s Northern Soul and 1990s drum’nbass), it points to a contemporary re-appropriation of rhythmic heritage by African diaspora artists in performance and video practices.

A public programme of music and dance performances, film screenings and discussions accompanies the exhibition.

Opening Reception: Thurs 4 Jun, 7–9pm
with performance of John Cage, Bacchanale, 1940 on prepared piano by Siwan Rhys