Rohan Ayinde
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Photographer | Poet | Artist | Musician
One strand of the multi vibrational movement of soul-vibe-bringers, @Touching Bass
FAM. Make Art Life.
I'm an interdisciplinary artist working primarily with poetry and photography. My work is a question asking more questions about the shifting, malleable and complex world that surrounds me. Always grappling with the contradictions inherent in race, politics and all the other constructs that shape our lives my art wanders; verging on the personal, the political, the universal and all the pockets of
06/27/2020
Had the honour to collaborate with Ashley Freeby on her virtual show with Gallery 102.
"(un)sterile soil is about the death and memory of Black bodies killed by law enforcement. It is about what happened to Breonna Taylor, and every Black man, woman, and child before them. It aims to create a legacy by shifting the perspective. It moves the narrative away from the case file — away from the media coverage to reinstate human status. It examines the murder site from above to below the surface to analyze the essence of trauma to create memory away from our news feeds. It holds the ones we lost with care."
Responding to this centre, responding to Ashley's work, responding to the gravity of the moment that we're living in led to the creation of the piece of work I made, and it feels like it is exactly what it needs to be. Please take some time to experience it, alongside the rest of the work, and to think, reflect and be cognisant of the importance of these narratives, exploding the ways they are usually spoken about and offering new languages the space to grow around them.
B — (un)sterile soil A handful of earth, a seed attempts to pe*****te the geography of violence that characterises America’s relationship to blackness. Weaving together a thickness out of video, poetry and the voices of Malcom X, Assata Shakur and Nina Simone it is a meditation on the ways that meaning is made out of...
06/19/2020
05/15/2020
Check out the two tracks I worked on for Wu-Lu's latest offering, which dropped back in March.
Overgrown Interludes with tracks from some of the very best people I know.
H'Enjoy.
OVERGROWN INTERLUDES, by Wu-Lu 13 track album
05/15/2020
Had the pleasure of collaborating with the homie Hector Plimmer and offering up a poem alongside some contributions from a host of incredible artists. It was a beautiful show and definitely had the effect of soothing some latent anxiety in my soul. Run it back and take a moment.
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I should do a better job of keeping this page updated.
Here is my honest attempt. Let's see how well I keep it up!
This is me talking about my work and the opportunity to be in Berlin for two months while I was on a residency at the Institut Fur Alles Mogliche this past summer. It was an incredible rewarding and edifying experience - one that will forever remain with me.
This was my first time being awarded a residency and my first time in Berlin. It's been a whirlwind of a year. From Graduating with my Masters from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, to spending two months in Berlin, to countless other small, big and trying experiences. Life keeps coming at you innit, and all you can do is try your best to navigate its pathways.
xx
Two years ago we did our first SAMPLED gig down at Pop Brixton. To go back to London and end up doing an amazing set of performances with a group of people who have become some of my closest friends, and who have expanded the community of people that nourish and nurture my soul, was an incredible thing!
To have played with the caliber of musicians I did over the course of our performances was a next level experience! Giles Kwake Bass, Wu-Lu, Alexandra Rita Rosalina, Ego Ella May, Hec Plimm, Nubya Garcia, Ben Romans Hopcraft, Floetic Lara, Ahnansé, Idris Rahman, Robin JH, Nãnci Bill Correia, Reiss Goodridge, Thomas Stankiewicz, Dom Whalley, Blen, Tayo Rap...
Just writing all of those names next to each other feels like a legendary act. And that can't even capture the whole of it. This was a little video produced before our final performance at the Church of Sound.
Just, Vibes.
06/02/2018
I've got to do a better job of keeping things updated, and there's no better time to start than halfway through the year. Over the past six months I've been shooting portraits of the Features for the People Say Open Mic over at TRAPHouse Chicago. It has been a lot of fun getting back in the studio to make images that I can control more or less all the variables for.
This month's feature is my partner in crime, the beautiful Resita Cox, who is also the co-host and co-founder of the series with Mashaun Ali.
Each month I feel like I level up a little, and this month is no exception. Something bout practice, dedication, the hours you put into your craft and all that. Let me know what you think and, of course, enjoy.
Also, if you're chicago based and need a session give me a shout and we can talk rates etc. ✌🏾
04/07/2018
The last two days were inspiring on multiple levels. I presented a paper at a conference hosted by the Buffett Institute and heard a slate of poignant and engaged scholars present their own works.
I'm feeling fully joyous to have been given the opportunity to be in the space, share ideas, build relationships and receive and give feedback.
Vibes.
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