PODCAST: John Powell-Jones in conversation with Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley and David Blandy

To coincide with the CYBERJUNK exhibition we invited John Powell-Jones, Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley and David Blandy to talk about how computer and role playing games help us make sense of the world: unpacking our perceptions of reality, our understanding of morality and our awareness of different communities. They discuss their inspirations, working instinctively with different digital technologies and how embracing difficulty is integral to their work.

Artist Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley uses the forms and imagery of video games to create works that consider “what archives have left out and how we can archive now.” Danielle works predominantly in animation, sound, performance and Video Games to communicate the experiences of being a Black Trans person. Danielle’s practice focuses on recording the lives of Black Trans people, intertwining lived experience with fiction to imaginatively retell Trans stories. Spurred on by a desire to record the “History of Trans people both living and past” their work can often be seen as a Trans archive where Black Trans people are stored for the future. 

“Throughout history, Black queer and Trans people have been erased from the archives. Because of this it is necessary not only to archive our existence, but also the many creative narratives we have used and continue to use to share our experiences.” Brathwaite-Shirley

Brathwaite-Shirley’s work has been exhibited at: ICA, London; Arebyte Gallery, London; David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles; Quad, Derby; Science Gallery, London and TATE Modern, London.

www.daniellebrathwaiteshirley.com

David Blandy investigates the stories and cultural forces that inform and influence our behaviour. Collaboration is central to his practice, examining communal and personal heritage and interdependence. He has developed a gaming art practice writing original RPG’s, examining social justice, climate change and posthuman futures. He works in installation, performance, writing, gaming and sound, and has had national and international solo exhibitions of his work. Nominated for the Film London Jarman award with Larry Achiampong in 2018. He has exhibited & performed at venues nationally and worldwide such as Focal Point Gallery, Southend-on-Sea; Kettle’s Yard, Cambridge; Art Tower Mito, Tokyo; Kiasma Contemporary Art Museum, Helsinki; Tate Modern, London; The Baltic, Gateshead; Turner Contemporary, Margate; Spike Island, Bristol; Künstlerhaus Stuttgart, Germany; MoMA PS1, New York, and Museum of Contemporary Art, Shanghai. He is represented by Seventeen Gallery, London. 

www.davidblandy.co.uk

Find out more about the CYBERJUNK exhibition here