Bodies of Knowledge Goes on Show at SOMETHING Art Space

In 2022, we launched our seminal film project Bodies of Knowledge, which features over 50 black and POC creatives from all over the world, offering their unique artistic perspectives on the body, reimagined through film and - more importantly - the black experience.

When we pitched the project, the world was engulfed by Black Lives Matter protests in response to the New York Police Department's wrongful killing of George Floyd. A whole host of questions which had been brewing for some time bubbled like hot lava, eventually spilling to the surface, leading people to address the absence, misinterpretation and fetishisation of the black body in visual culture and fashion. These were questions we also sought to answer by asking our contributors to create moving image responses to parts of the human body, with the project's purpose highlighting the racist structures which underpin the entire fashion and creative industries.

Fast forward a year since we launched, and Bodies of Knowledge will now go on show as a standalone exhibition at Anna-Alix Koffi's SOMETHING art space in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, which will house this bold canon of work, ranging from fashion film, 3D animation, video essays and spoken word pieces, to dance and musical performances. We spoke to Koffi about her move to contact us to propose a physical exhibition and what the work means to her.

SHOWstudio: What is the aim of your gallery SOMETHING?

Anna-Alix Koffi: SOMETHING is a non-profit art space dedicated to promoting critical thinking, video and digital art. After nearly a decade of publishing on the medium, I wanted to continue my 'mission' of sharing and raising awareness within the realms of physical space. The art centre is located in Blockhauss, a very dynamic and non-gentrified area of ​​Abidjan. I can see how, at first glance, the area could be interpreted as not being widely suitable for introducing such cutting-edge mediums. Located at the crossroads of the meeting points of working-class areas, the establishment and the cool kids, on the contrary, it turns out to be the perfect spot.

SHOWstudio: How did you come across our Bodies of Knowledge Project?

AAK: Through Instagram, I have been following SHOWstudio's account and many of the participating artists for a while.

SHOWstudio: What is it about this project that speaks to you? What made you want to exhibit it in your gallery?

AAK: To put it bluntly, I simply love video art. From ultra minimalist film to very technical work, the endless bouts of creative opportunity possible within a film format transport me wherever the artist wishes to take me. Emma Dabiri's work is impressive, I find the association unexpected and the result so necessary. I wanted to share in this sum of all knowledge as this project corresponds exactly with the principles that motivated me to open SOMETHING. I am delighted that SOMETHING will become the project's first physical stage.

SHOWstudio: Do you have a favourite film in the Bodies of Knowledge project?

AAK: At least two. But I won't give a title … one of them is in black and white, but that's all I'll say. More seriously, as a whole, it gives a unique impression and strength, like watching a HAKA; you don't remember one player but the whole ensemble. I also adored all the films that were shot on the continent, especially in their artistic representations that steered away from being folklore-inspired works - these often were filmed in places that are unfairly overlooked and it was important to have that portrayal.

SHOWstudio: Why are your thoughts on the medium of film for self expression?

AAK: To me, film is perhaps the most complete medium for an artist. We imagine it, or we dream it, we write it, we bring it to life. It is rarely solitary work, so we communicate with other creative forces, and at some point this self-expression becomes collective.

SOMETHING art space is dedicated to video art, digital art and education via conferences, masterclasses and workshops. It’s a space for reflection, discussion and exploration of cultural links between the different African countries and the rest of the world; a space for meetings of different artists and practices.

The space is located in the Blockhauss district of Abidjan.

Exhibition opens to the public 7 November until 10 December, 2023.

Open Tuesday - Saturday from 12:00 - 19:00.

Entrance is free.