John Akomfrah

John Akomfrah CBE RA (born 4 May 1957)[1] is a British artist, writer, film director, screenwriter, theorist and curator of Ghanaian descent, whose "commitment to a radicalism both of politics and of cinematic form finds expression in all his films".[2]
- Wiki

Mimesis: African Soldier

John Akomfrah has a new Film showing at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, 1 October 2022—8 January 2023.

Mimesis: African Soldier by John Akomfrah uncovers the undiscussed story of the Commonwealth soldiers who volunteered to fight in World War I: the war of their colonial masters.

Read more about this work on the museum’s website.

Vertigo Sea

John Akomfrah's Installation "Vertigo Sea", was on display at the Arnolfini in Bristol till 10th April 2016.

Write in your workbook's/ Blogs...

Describe the installation - aesthetics, form, design, content, narrative?

Discuss the Social, Political, Historical aspects of the work

Do some more research and reading into the artist and related works

HANDSWORTH SONG (1981)

The use of montage in John Akomfrah's Handsworth Song (1981). News clip and photos of the Birmingham riot on top of the song 'Jerusalem', insinuate a strong political statement: the utopia of Britain as the land of 'pasture and green' collapsed under the reality of untidy and discomforting race-based riot..

INTERVIEWS

Part 1 of 3 We ask John Akomfrah about Black Audio Film Collective. What was it and was were their aims. John Akomfrah, The Unfinished Conversation at New Art Exchange, 11 May - 14 July nae.org.uk Produced as part of the season Made For TV tether.org.uk/madefortv #M4TV

Part 2 of an interview with John Akomfrah. In this section, Akomfrah discusses how Black Audio Film Collective began to show work on television. Part of Made For TV: www.tether.org.uk/madefortv Filmed to coincide with the exhibition "The Unfinished Conversation" at the New Art Exchange, www.nae.org.uk #M4TV

Part 2 of an interview with John Akomfrah. In this section, Akomfrah discusses the transition from Black Audio Film Collective to Smoking Dogs. Part of Made For TV: www.tether.org.uk/madefortv Filmed to coincide with the exhibition "The Unfinished Conversation" at the New Art Exchange, www.nae.org.uk #M4TV

John Akomfrah's genre-defying films elegantly combine art and politics; his career spans the worlds of film, arts, television, and academia. He began directing in The Eighties with Black Audio Film Collective, whose subtle but searing commentaries on British racism were aired on a bold new Channel 4.