An older woman living her life theway she wants to, immersing her mind, body and spirit in art, relaxing, entertaining, creating and loving every minute she has. Inspirational!
a written reflection inspired by an exhibition at the Tate Britain, UK of the same name, by Isaac Julian, words by Suzy Rowland.
Stepping into the ‘beating heart’ of a cinematic giant,
the fractured beauty of “Once Again Statues Never Die”
steeped in Sepia darkness across multiple screen-shaped eyes,
like Black Swan, noir nostalgia, cream-tipped European ballet slippers, straining to dance beyond waltzes, to ancient drums of Benin.
African art has been there in the shadows, emboldening her European sister.
The red artery “Vagabondia”- filmed at Sir John Soanes museum - breathes kaleidoscopic form, a homage to silent movies - a black Geppetto dances in graceful contortions, mother speaks, her creole questioning, reassuring, evidence of blended tongues.
“Ten Thousand Waves” – I nearly drowned as ships bobbed on calm seas, so much death in the ocean for hundreds of years – too many black and brown bodies unknown
a deadly rite of passage for melanated migrants – invited or uninvited
simply seeking safety or salvation
either way their lives don’t seem to matter.
Black and white lovers love “Looking for Langston”
Languid intimate, daring
Black masculinity – the epitome of beauty
Wild, objectified, but not free – your black body is the prize for everyone’s eyes, who drink in your contours with envy, hatred and desire – a manhood so pure it had to be captured, enslaved, broken into pieces.
Fiery autumn colours flutter across ten-screens in “Lessons of the Hour”, as we meet Frederick Douglass, hear him speak, examine him in miniature, like the black stallion, bobbing yellow blades of grass, great oaks, whose gnarled trunks witnessed such vile executions.
The last artery, “A marvellous entanglement” stirred ghosts of the past and present as we visited architect Bo Bardi’s work - she reminded us that linear time is a Western invention -we witnessed the fusion of past and present, in several motion frames, the African man - universal man - showed us that the puppet head must die,
as life right now is too brutal for beauty to survive.
Suzy Rowland
Suzy Rowland
A wonderful mission and making strong and steady waves to change lives and careers for so many young people! Great work :)
4 weeks ago | [YT] | 0
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Suzy Rowland
The best 20-minute blub on You Tube - hands up if you love Cynthia E? xx
1 month ago | [YT] | 0
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Suzy Rowland
I learned so much from part of this programme - what an honour to speak to esteemed actor RUDOLPH WALKER :)
#actor #rudolphwalker
2 months ago | [YT] | 1
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Suzy Rowland
So eloquent. Well done.. it seems we only 'notice' black boys in school when they're being aggressive or destructive.
2 months ago | [YT] | 1
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Suzy Rowland
This is divine feminine energy at play -
An older woman living her life theway she wants to, immersing her mind, body and spirit in art, relaxing, entertaining, creating and loving every minute she has. Inspirational!
5 months ago | [YT] | 1
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Suzy Rowland
"What freedom is to me"
a written reflection inspired by an exhibition at the Tate Britain, UK of the same name, by Isaac Julian, words by Suzy Rowland.
Stepping into the ‘beating heart’ of a cinematic giant,
the fractured beauty of “Once Again Statues Never Die”
steeped in Sepia darkness across multiple screen-shaped eyes,
like Black Swan, noir nostalgia, cream-tipped European ballet slippers, straining to dance beyond waltzes, to ancient drums of Benin.
African art has been there in the shadows, emboldening her European sister.
The red artery “Vagabondia”- filmed at Sir John Soanes museum - breathes kaleidoscopic form, a homage to silent movies - a black Geppetto dances in graceful contortions, mother speaks, her creole questioning, reassuring, evidence of blended tongues.
“Ten Thousand Waves” – I nearly drowned as ships bobbed on calm seas, so much death in the ocean for hundreds of years – too many black and brown bodies unknown
a deadly rite of passage for melanated migrants – invited or uninvited
simply seeking safety or salvation
either way their lives don’t seem to matter.
Black and white lovers love “Looking for Langston”
Languid intimate, daring
Black masculinity – the epitome of beauty
Wild, objectified, but not free – your black body is the prize for everyone’s eyes, who drink in your contours with envy, hatred and desire – a manhood so pure it had to be captured, enslaved, broken into pieces.
Fiery autumn colours flutter across ten-screens in “Lessons of the Hour”, as we meet Frederick Douglass, hear him speak, examine him in miniature, like the black stallion, bobbing yellow blades of grass, great oaks, whose gnarled trunks witnessed such vile executions.
The last artery, “A marvellous entanglement” stirred ghosts of the past and present as we visited architect Bo Bardi’s work - she reminded us that linear time is a Western invention -we witnessed the fusion of past and present, in several motion frames, the African man - universal man - showed us that the puppet head must die,
as life right now is too brutal for beauty to survive.
Suzy Rowland 2023.
All images ©Isaac Julien.
2 years ago | [YT] | 1
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Suzy Rowland
2 years ago | [YT] | 1
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