BISONNE presents Figures

 

Figures is an ongoing archival project that documents notable figures from Black British History before 1948, the year that marked the arrival of HMT Windrush. These figures include entertainers, politicians, sportsmen, and regular, everyday people who made a difference in their community. Many of these figures existed in a time where cameras and film were rare, and as such there is often limited visual documentation of them. 

 

For this reason, Figures uses colourful illustration and text to bring to life the stories of these forgotten figures. Digitally drawn by artist and writer Varaidzo, these illustrations are informed by faded photography, blurred film footage, and first hand accounts to capture the essence of each figure and bring their presence to the forefront. Each figure, whether a famous entertainer or local hero, is given equal attention, to show the impact that we can all have on our communities today. 

 

Figures was first exhibited in 2020 at Theatre Peckham for the duration of Black History Month, and has since been featured in Metro UK, Vice UK and on BBC Two’s ‘Great British Railway Journeys’. 

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During 2020, Black Lives Matter protests took place across the UK after the death of George Floyd in the US exposed the racial disparities in Britain as well. This also sparked the ‘black square’ movement, where many arts organisations shared a black square on social media to show solidarity with the aims of the Black Lives Matter movement. Five years on, Trump has been re-elected in the US and is actively dismantling DEI initiatives, while many arts organisations in the UK have walked back on their pledges made in 2020 to diversify. 

 

Now returning to Peckham five years after its inaugural showcase, the Figures archive has grown in size to almost 100 figures. Many of the figures, including Dr Harold Moody, Ronald Moody and Una Marson, all lived locally to Staffordshire St. on Queen’s Road, where a blue plaque is hanging in their honour. Showcasing part of this archive during Black History Month keeps these stories and this history alive. Artist tours, led by Varaidzo, will take place throughout the duration of the exhibition which are free for all to attend. 

 

The opening will feature a panel conversation with historian and author of ‘When We Ruled: The Rise and Fall of Twelve African Queens and Warriors’, Paula Akpan, who first platformed the Figures archive in 2018. Akpan will discuss her own research methods for preserving the historical archive.

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Tickets for the opening here.