https://jessicaashman.com Jessica Ashman - Artist Sun, 14 Sep 2025 16:09:13 +0000 https://jessicaashman.com en https://jessicaashman.com/Homepage Mon, 10 Sep 2018 17:36:21 +0000 Jessica Ashman - Artist https://jessicaashman.com/Homepage https://jessicaashman.com/Chimera-Island-Modern-Painters-New-Decorators-2025 Sun, 14 Sep 2025 16:09:13 +0000 Jessica Ashman - Artist https://jessicaashman.com/Chimera-Island-Modern-Painters-New-Decorators-2025 <img width="2400" height="1600" width_o="2400" height_o="1600" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e127e649c086ad80d27e8790950a24e689f7d135eb34db9db28e213d1ca1a048/Chimera_Hits-002.jpg" data-mid="238652822" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/e127e649c086ad80d27e8790950a24e689f7d135eb34db9db28e213d1ca1a048/Chimera_Hits-002.jpg" /><img width="1600" height="2400" width_o="1600" height_o="2400" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4facb9ad1e2b7509417c79348d16c1d53f3a26b7ff6ab376ad40a151b8e4f352/Chimera_Hits-008.jpg" data-mid="238653212" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/4facb9ad1e2b7509417c79348d16c1d53f3a26b7ff6ab376ad40a151b8e4f352/Chimera_Hits-008.jpg" /> <img width="1600" height="2400" width_o="1600" height_o="2400" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/31704f2a6647735670931ff8dd3a14d3cf6ac1da9ed4befa0e5ef952831f4dfc/Chimera_Hits-013.jpg" data-mid="238652832" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/31704f2a6647735670931ff8dd3a14d3cf6ac1da9ed4befa0e5ef952831f4dfc/Chimera_Hits-013.jpg" /> <img width="1600" height="2400" width_o="1600" height_o="2400" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1e31e7a2ce0461419db45cf557521604bf4f50b09f93aa1de4307871617c8c9d/Chimera_Hits-011.jpg" data-mid="238652830" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/1e31e7a2ce0461419db45cf557521604bf4f50b09f93aa1de4307871617c8c9d/Chimera_Hits-011.jpg" /> <img width="2400" height="1600" width_o="2400" height_o="1600" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b97f38f7ff5aa6fb86da41415a6eb7e693ef5aeb610fdd1735d34d0127f97896/Chimera_Hits-016.jpg" data-mid="238652835" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b97f38f7ff5aa6fb86da41415a6eb7e693ef5aeb610fdd1735d34d0127f97896/Chimera_Hits-016.jpg" /> <img width="2400" height="1600" width_o="2400" height_o="1600" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8e7c4410e5f593020f7063fd08c3755e341e190fd66cf6313ac83881d26a0e85/Chimera_Hits-020.jpg" data-mid="238652840" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/8e7c4410e5f593020f7063fd08c3755e341e190fd66cf6313ac83881d26a0e85/Chimera_Hits-020.jpg" /> <img width="2400" height="1600" width_o="2400" height_o="1600" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/34b4016c0c86e019fff5c9293d531b7edb0325f7e280346d4feae38b583a579c/Chimera_Hits-052.jpg" data-mid="238654229" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/34b4016c0c86e019fff5c9293d531b7edb0325f7e280346d4feae38b583a579c/Chimera_Hits-052.jpg" /> <img width="2400" height="1600" width_o="2400" height_o="1600" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d3e0481ae0c41e19fdbe6bcd2729539d6bf63d0e45dd95aef2776af43a7cb2ac/Chimera_Hits-004.jpg" data-mid="238652825" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/d3e0481ae0c41e19fdbe6bcd2729539d6bf63d0e45dd95aef2776af43a7cb2ac/Chimera_Hits-004.jpg" /> <img width="2400" height="1600" width_o="2400" height_o="1600" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/896eda58761acc3cfbd94e72968dd9775fcd12d67453f3cb3928803359475b91/Chimera_Hits-054.jpg" data-mid="238654230" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/896eda58761acc3cfbd94e72968dd9775fcd12d67453f3cb3928803359475b91/Chimera_Hits-054.jpg" /> <img width="2400" height="1600" width_o="2400" height_o="1600" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/cd3174c8548d4ce1821761ccd5863a088b4cb98aef2fe4ae4d91ed510f26a947/Chimera_Hits-022.jpg" data-mid="238652842" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/cd3174c8548d4ce1821761ccd5863a088b4cb98aef2fe4ae4d91ed510f26a947/Chimera_Hits-022.jpg" /> <img width="2400" height="1600" width_o="2400" height_o="1600" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/82db0eee1d9e897678d22a34aaef62e3e5ed3f0c54b0dc32dfb92eb0a070d9aa/Chimera_Hits-049.jpg" data-mid="238654228" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/82db0eee1d9e897678d22a34aaef62e3e5ed3f0c54b0dc32dfb92eb0a070d9aa/Chimera_Hits-049.jpg" /> Chimera Island is an immersive new installation at the Loughborough based gallery Modern Painters, New Decorators. The exhibition reimagines landscapes as sites of resistance, refuge, and radical re-connection for Black, brown and Global Majority communities. Working across textiles, animation, sound, and natural dyeing, Chimera Island explores how colonial histories haunt rural spaces — and how those same spaces might be reimagined through a speculative, restorative lens. The exhibition centres on an imagined island; a hybrid space drawing inspiration from personal experience, landscape research, and myth. Ashman weaves together references to Brazil Island in Leicestershire (a renamed islet in Swithland Reservoir) and the legend of Hy-Brasil — a phantom island from Irish folklore said to appear once every seven years. Out of these entangled geographies, Ashman conjures Chimera Island: a speculative refuge for those displaced by empire, where Black, brown and Global Majority identities can commune with land outside the logics of conquest, forced labour, and exclusion through ancestral connection. At the heart of the exhibition is a new large-scale textile installation in vivid pinks and magentas, dyed using Brazilwood and Logwood — a material historically linked to colonial extraction and trade. The works unfold like exploded storyboards: layered scenes and characters suspended in space,&nbsp; weaving together silk painting, sound, and hand-drawn animation; a visual meditation on identity, resistance, and the possibility of reimagining place. The installation is soundtracked by a soundscape created by Ashman, entitled ‘You Just Gotta Make A Path’, comprising of recordings made on Brazil Island and original music. Jessica Ashman · You Just Gotta Make A Path Chimera Island also includes two previously made works (back two panels) ‘ The Rhizosphere’ (2025) - silk dye, archival pen and watercolour pencil on Habatoi silk and (Front panel) ‘when you rip the people from the earth, you also rip the earth from the people’ (2024) - Silk paint and acrylic ink on Habatoi silk and wooden branch. <img width="2400" height="1600" width_o="2400" height_o="1600" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f49417511a5b64ebee8ca4fe29a9c10a05e573cd73e774bf7809667fc32830e2/Chimera_Hits-026.jpg" data-mid="238652844" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/f49417511a5b64ebee8ca4fe29a9c10a05e573cd73e774bf7809667fc32830e2/Chimera_Hits-026.jpg" /> <img width="1600" height="2400" width_o="1600" height_o="2400" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/809a8087077b7336af982da18c37eb952fd15b1fb0b92041e1abf605723889c0/Chimera_Hits-030.jpg" data-mid="238654257" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/809a8087077b7336af982da18c37eb952fd15b1fb0b92041e1abf605723889c0/Chimera_Hits-030.jpg" /> <img width="2400" height="1600" width_o="2400" height_o="1600" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9c768ec87a22d81c247a79e1924f2df28ddb599815ee064db202b310e12dd725/Chimera_Hits-033.jpg" data-mid="238652847" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/9c768ec87a22d81c247a79e1924f2df28ddb599815ee064db202b310e12dd725/Chimera_Hits-033.jpg" /> <img width="2400" height="1600" width_o="2400" height_o="1600" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/976e3a597ba204fccef91808ba02d551fa470e99997a27e013e0c34e9fe8aba9/Chimera_Hits-025.jpg" data-mid="238654314" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/976e3a597ba204fccef91808ba02d551fa470e99997a27e013e0c34e9fe8aba9/Chimera_Hits-025.jpg" /> <img width="2400" height="1600" width_o="2400" height_o="1600" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f03cb1c2b272b900d73f47c7d0c8c38be4bc396f98ce1bec9eb2133e303c3ed6/Chimera_Hits-032.jpg" data-mid="238654262" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/f03cb1c2b272b900d73f47c7d0c8c38be4bc396f98ce1bec9eb2133e303c3ed6/Chimera_Hits-032.jpg" /> <img width="2400" height="1600" width_o="2400" height_o="1600" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/481dadef35b9082c0fdf4caecc6eec6b06a3fb82a6d1dc839042faf8a6fc62c3/Chimera_Hits-036.jpg" data-mid="238652851" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/481dadef35b9082c0fdf4caecc6eec6b06a3fb82a6d1dc839042faf8a6fc62c3/Chimera_Hits-036.jpg" /> https://jessicaashman.com/Those-that-do-not-smile-will-kill-me-2025 Tue, 25 Mar 2025 17:08:42 +0000 Jessica Ashman - Artist https://jessicaashman.com/Those-that-do-not-smile-will-kill-me-2025 Those that do not smile will kill me: Decolonising Jamaican Flora’ February 22nd to July 27th 2025, Bristol Museum &amp; Art Gallery <img width="5383" height="3628" width_o="5383" height_o="3628" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d35ffe5dbd10b4dd9900b340fb8bd763ff0c0395164bfd7a3d851ba5ca4471c1/Installation_01.jpg" data-mid="228785560" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/d35ffe5dbd10b4dd9900b340fb8bd763ff0c0395164bfd7a3d851ba5ca4471c1/Installation_01.jpg" /> <img width="3624" height="4679" width_o="3624" height_o="4679" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/aa9939eddd71cf679a0834b94c9dc3d1180126ccc16328245893d8a911b9fd0b/datura01.jpg" data-mid="228817731" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/aa9939eddd71cf679a0834b94c9dc3d1180126ccc16328245893d8a911b9fd0b/datura01.jpg" /> <img width="5472" height="3648" width_o="5472" height_o="3648" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/73e6f601263eeaeafde81af916ac3ba8215f4de1a1aa4e74fb668c69cfea957f/IMG_3467.JPG" data-mid="228785666" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/73e6f601263eeaeafde81af916ac3ba8215f4de1a1aa4e74fb668c69cfea957f/IMG_3467.JPG" /> <img width="3648" height="5472" width_o="3648" height_o="5472" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4117f15a06e0073da774f62215e8ff84a1835fe63394534d04023d498259ba8b/juba02.JPG" data-mid="228817736" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/4117f15a06e0073da774f62215e8ff84a1835fe63394534d04023d498259ba8b/juba02.JPG" /> <img width="3648" height="5472" width_o="3648" height_o="5472" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/91531fd8a8e6a54a320bbd651f919d96c6b4de5cbbe41ee16f386bfb157d2616/afiba.JPG" data-mid="228817401" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/91531fd8a8e6a54a320bbd651f919d96c6b4de5cbbe41ee16f386bfb157d2616/afiba.JPG" /> <img width="3495" height="5262" width_o="3495" height_o="5262" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/5f5f5b15286cddffeac02fcf32f5f0142ccdacf3814d6fa85ed1b6913ea077e2/Entrance.jpg" data-mid="228785559" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/5f5f5b15286cddffeac02fcf32f5f0142ccdacf3814d6fa85ed1b6913ea077e2/Entrance.jpg" /> <img width="3648" height="5472" width_o="3648" height_o="5472" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0b455ebed0fd37793408c70fd73c1b0e230ffddc7cd5e9a5d08e4b23920f3d22/IMG_3591.JPG" data-mid="228817311" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/0b455ebed0fd37793408c70fd73c1b0e230ffddc7cd5e9a5d08e4b23920f3d22/IMG_3591.JPG" /> <img width="3648" height="5472" width_o="3648" height_o="5472" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b46908e77ebd41a91c4648e6f65d72b12c3475a10147a160bf39590e782bcc71/Installation_06.jpg" data-mid="228785561" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b46908e77ebd41a91c4648e6f65d72b12c3475a10147a160bf39590e782bcc71/Installation_06.jpg" /> <img width="2974" height="3906" width_o="2974" height_o="3906" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1f3036a1d6832dadf9b8895b4fdf4b2f6d1e58181f82ac9f986f51425650eed1/Poster.jpg" data-mid="228785564" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/1f3036a1d6832dadf9b8895b4fdf4b2f6d1e58181f82ac9f986f51425650eed1/Poster.jpg" /> <img width="3430" height="5320" width_o="3430" height_o="5320" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3097602ff5fa66ce622f8174d2e9983bc33e6546f30e003fd499647df7e51448/rhizosphere.jpg" data-mid="228817274" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/3097602ff5fa66ce622f8174d2e9983bc33e6546f30e003fd499647df7e51448/rhizosphere.jpg" /> <img width="3335" height="5448" width_o="3335" height_o="5448" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9f06974d387eb54d750e207260442fa392b4ccdbaf287689400141aefe9f95de/Rebellion_01.jpg" data-mid="228785565" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/9f06974d387eb54d750e207260442fa392b4ccdbaf287689400141aefe9f95de/Rebellion_01.jpg" /> <img width="3648" height="5472" width_o="3648" height_o="5472" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b8fd1978be9ddf572420efd95b9fac74520369e07031a29f8c7ab0d700dbf356/Rebellion_02.jpg" data-mid="228785566" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b8fd1978be9ddf572420efd95b9fac74520369e07031a29f8c7ab0d700dbf356/Rebellion_02.jpg" /> <img width="5472" height="3648" width_o="5472" height_o="3648" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a0a23aae556509f641ebc4ad1ef91180c0d8de774a7a8da845be1a5a8c606b79/Installation_02.jpg" data-mid="228817761" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/a0a23aae556509f641ebc4ad1ef91180c0d8de774a7a8da845be1a5a8c606b79/Installation_02.jpg" />‘Those that do not smile will kill me’ is a new installation work, supported by the University of the Arts London Decolonising Institute’s 20/20 programme and Bristol Museum &amp; Art Gallery Consisting of paintings on silk, animation, projection on acrylic, a soundscape and a digital print on cotton, ‘Those that do not smile will kill me’ is an exploration of the resistance and liberation gained through the plant world of Jamaica’s natural landscape, from the enslaved people who inhabited the island in the 1700’s. It is an exploration of the stories behind exploitation and extraction of the island’s precious natural resources.&nbsp; Since summer 2023, Ashman has been in residence at Bristol Museum &amp; Art Gallery’s collection, researching archives from the British Empire and Commonwealth Collection and exploring specimens in the Natural History collection.&nbsp; Ashman’s time in residence led her to explore the collections of two 18th-century biologists, whose herbaria and archives are held in the museum. Arthur Broughton (1758-1796) accumulated flowers and plants in Jamaica in the 1780s and 90s and this herbarium is a resource for study of the botany on the island. The ‘pro-slavery priest’ John Lindsay (1729 -1788) settled in Jamaica in 1758. He produced an illustrated manuscript, depicting local flora and fauna . Both men relied on the knowledge of Africans enslaved on the island to develop their understanding and to aid in the collecting itself Ashman came to Broughton and Lindsay via the writings of the Scottish pharmacist John Small held in the BECC collection. The owner of a coconut plantation in Jamaica, Small described the island as a ‘land of milk and honey’. Ashman wanted to dig deeper and understand the experiences of those who were indigenous and enslaved on this island “paradise” ‘Those that do not smile will kill me’ aims to ask the question: whose paradise is this? She has taken this line of enquiry further to explore how Indigenous and African-Jamaicans used plants to resist their enslavement: from growing for food to harvesting for poisons, hallucinogens, medicine and birth control. Ashman’s paintings on silk give agency to the minute African figures who appear in Lindsay’s drawings. She posits an alternative narrative for the figures: from growing to feed and sell, to resistance and rebellion: Jamaica was known to have the highest number of uprisings during enslavement out of all of the Caribbean. The title comes from a proverb that tells the danger of the Jamaican fruit, Ackee, part of Jamaica’s national dish, Ackee and Saltfish. If the fruit is not ripe, ie, does not split and ‘smile’, it is poisonous. Ashman questions the Enlightenment version of scientific investigation, the narrative that European colonisers owned this knowledge and the trauma of the extraction and exploitation of Jamaica’s natural resources and people. Through immersive soundscapes and moving image, Ashman also seeks to imagine a utopia through the magic of growing and how the enslaved people of the island connected to their spirituality through the landscape of Jamaica. Sonically, she has created a 30 minute&nbsp; soundscape with musician and composer, Auclair, that expands on the alternative universe Ashman has created and embodies the interority of the characters she has created. Read a Q&amp;A between Jessica Ashman and two of our curators which explores the themes of her work and what to expect from her exhibition. https://jessicaashman.com/Whose-Land-Is-This-2023 Sun, 21 Jan 2024 19:53:16 +0000 Jessica Ashman - Artist https://jessicaashman.com/Whose-Land-Is-This-2023 Whose Land Is This? Is a project created in a week long residency at AME in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, as part of their Zero Parameters Residency in October 2023. Resulting in a 30 minute audio visual performance, the piece combined poetry, music and animation. Inspired by the writing of Claire Ratinon’s text ‘Unearthed’, ‘Green Unpleasant Land’ by Corrine Fowler and Ingrid Pollard’s seminal work Cost Of The English Landscape , Whose Land Is This? dives into Ashman’s feelings of discomfort and disconnection whilst visiting rural landscapes of the UK as a Black women.&nbsp;Whose Land Is This? questions the unspoken histories of Black peoples connection to the “Great” British countryside, as well as interrogating the ownership of rural UK land and how this space can be reclaimed.&nbsp; This project is a work in progress, with images below being part of the aforementioned AME residency.&nbsp;<img width="800" height="450" width_o="800" height_o="450" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f30f6a2d5d783ea662e241242d9da2f8e85e11dcd3b0edd3532667d0ac67191c/orchid-blob.gif" data-mid="202444724" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/800/i/f30f6a2d5d783ea662e241242d9da2f8e85e11dcd3b0edd3532667d0ac67191c/orchid-blob.gif" /> <img width="1500" height="2000" width_o="1500" height_o="2000" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/43e0aadea83076170be32eac13db6224047124a8e36e9c0f2ff71228e49609a6/6f102a69-9a62-42c7-83e5-50253969a333.JPG" data-mid="202386263" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/43e0aadea83076170be32eac13db6224047124a8e36e9c0f2ff71228e49609a6/6f102a69-9a62-42c7-83e5-50253969a333.JPG" /> <img width="1200" height="1600" width_o="1200" height_o="1600" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3d978148a0312e6b1d4614fb1f93148c9faa5ea16dc1d8df322ec2c00f140ef5/047d6284-1e8b-41eb-822d-103b6f0568a1.JPG" data-mid="202386264" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/3d978148a0312e6b1d4614fb1f93148c9faa5ea16dc1d8df322ec2c00f140ef5/047d6284-1e8b-41eb-822d-103b6f0568a1.JPG" /> <img width="1200" height="1600" width_o="1200" height_o="1600" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e1f7090a8a3f9a0f7d4eb8b1464356c3fae3bdd348670d36ac2f3bdc4863b81f/d70e2334-a921-4a6a-9eee-5e05d0e64da7.JPG" data-mid="202386268" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/e1f7090a8a3f9a0f7d4eb8b1464356c3fae3bdd348670d36ac2f3bdc4863b81f/d70e2334-a921-4a6a-9eee-5e05d0e64da7.JPG" /> <img width="1200" height="1600" width_o="1200" height_o="1600" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f935fa4fd939ae23db25339a78e4721855b213b6a16f50e7ae71fededd4e83f4/1c1c3526-307c-492b-9ade-2d61649a33d6.JPG" data-mid="202386350" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/f935fa4fd939ae23db25339a78e4721855b213b6a16f50e7ae71fededd4e83f4/1c1c3526-307c-492b-9ade-2d61649a33d6.JPG" /> <img width="1500" height="2000" width_o="1500" height_o="2000" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2014dca97192fbd555443121467a61474168806189e816b4fe5fdaf8285e3485/398f233c-3a4e-4df0-ab88-47d1b32612fa-2.JPG" data-mid="202386376" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/2014dca97192fbd555443121467a61474168806189e816b4fe5fdaf8285e3485/398f233c-3a4e-4df0-ab88-47d1b32612fa-2.JPG" /> <img width="1200" height="1600" width_o="1200" height_o="1600" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/5b4565450feadc916d4ea970b0890c1c25a8f6eddf6716f3b8fe7444dada403c/7b8297b3-0271-4d45-9177-63f3bfad2e14.JPG" data-mid="202386586" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/5b4565450feadc916d4ea970b0890c1c25a8f6eddf6716f3b8fe7444dada403c/7b8297b3-0271-4d45-9177-63f3bfad2e14.JPG" /> <img width="800" height="559" width_o="800" height_o="559" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4b5e62249402c591f8fd81a8680a0f7939004fa531df4a8c465906503430f330/ezgif-1-bca7d640bf.gif" data-mid="202444735" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/800/i/4b5e62249402c591f8fd81a8680a0f7939004fa531df4a8c465906503430f330/ezgif-1-bca7d640bf.gif" /><img width="4032" height="3024" width_o="4032" height_o="3024" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c6db7f33cb27114bbfb008e2b1026ad3e505046a4516b7f4f7ebb45e2eebbb8f/IMG_7644-2.JPG" data-mid="202386269" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/c6db7f33cb27114bbfb008e2b1026ad3e505046a4516b7f4f7ebb45e2eebbb8f/IMG_7644-2.JPG" /><img width="800" height="450" width_o="800" height_o="450" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e130d7126f37a9ba901d29c7519d476c946d7730f6de3dbc4c0d0f340c8131ad/walking.gif" data-mid="202444948" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/800/i/e130d7126f37a9ba901d29c7519d476c946d7730f6de3dbc4c0d0f340c8131ad/walking.gif" /><img width="800" height="450" width_o="800" height_o="450" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/83404546acc27615676c5983616e0fe8d3163cbe7af7f29a2308ee916c8ac83f/wlit.gif" data-mid="202385935" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/800/i/83404546acc27615676c5983616e0fe8d3163cbe7af7f29a2308ee916c8ac83f/wlit.gif" /> https://jessicaashman.com/DAWTA-AV-Performance-and-EP-2022 Tue, 27 Sep 2022 16:32:50 +0000 Jessica Ashman - Artist https://jessicaashman.com/DAWTA-AV-Performance-and-EP-2022 As part of DAWTA, an audio visual performance of the project was commisioned by Flatpack Festival, to develop the project further from it’s beginnings at Supernormal Festival. <img width="800" height="450" width_o="800" height_o="450" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ccd4bcedde8339318b9fa0f2bda6172fd5e58211834c0a8ddda4fa415896c404/ezgif.com-gif-maker-1.gif" data-mid="154310520" border="0" data-scale="90" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/800/i/ccd4bcedde8339318b9fa0f2bda6172fd5e58211834c0a8ddda4fa415896c404/ezgif.com-gif-maker-1.gif" /> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;DAWTA by Spirit Sig Funded by Arts Council England and produced by Abigail Addison of Animate Projects, the performance saw Ashman play live with drummer and visual artist Bimpe Alliu, playing the roles of ‘elder’ women, guiding Dawta to a utopian planet for Black, non-binary and trans women. Taking on concepts of time travel from Octavia Butler’s novel, ‘Kindred’, the live performance explored ideas of what a paradise for Black women could look like as well as enaging with ideas of the ability to harness collective/inherited trauma into an energy for hope.&nbsp; The premiere performance took place as part of Flatpack’s September 2021 edition of their festival. The second and final performance took place at Cafe Oto with Jenny Moore, in February 2022. CAFE OTO PERFORMANCE W/JENNY MOORE, FEB 22 <img width="1440" height="1440" width_o="1440" height_o="1440" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/5996e88a3206afe2b404793f27a5797aabaa076660821e0b8b9e85db7a7ea432/4A429413-A33C-41D2-8BFA-C6A38E7353DC-2.JPG" data-mid="154299514" border="0" data-scale="66" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/5996e88a3206afe2b404793f27a5797aabaa076660821e0b8b9e85db7a7ea432/4A429413-A33C-41D2-8BFA-C6A38E7353DC-2.JPG" /> <img width="2048" height="1536" width_o="2048" height_o="1536" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/692a0ba68dda43dc3c1717ced9d6f249c863c29c4d1934749f15e3a69e01bfcb/1033d5ff-01b9-4d85-b07e-ada0046e35a0.JPG" data-mid="154299516" border="0" data-scale="71" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/692a0ba68dda43dc3c1717ced9d6f249c863c29c4d1934749f15e3a69e01bfcb/1033d5ff-01b9-4d85-b07e-ada0046e35a0.JPG" /> <img width="1000" height="711" width_o="1000" height_o="711" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a29ed1c8df3473462e9c968f5c09b6c13404e9aa02abe4bf8753dc71f341bb01/79160024.jpg" data-mid="154300002" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/a29ed1c8df3473462e9c968f5c09b6c13404e9aa02abe4bf8753dc71f341bb01/79160024.jpg" /> <img width="1000" height="667" width_o="1000" height_o="667" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/bd3d7d7a845e6af6780ee9d824544bf313f20cfc20a31e08e14eac1d12322b11/DSCF1991.jpg" data-mid="154300005" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/bd3d7d7a845e6af6780ee9d824544bf313f20cfc20a31e08e14eac1d12322b11/DSCF1991.jpg" /> <img width="1000" height="1426" width_o="1000" height_o="1426" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0b0dbebd2f7993bc16a624cad5df5c03b86f18f699acc28d39f2a577a4645ccb/DSCF2009.jpg" data-mid="154300006" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/0b0dbebd2f7993bc16a624cad5df5c03b86f18f699acc28d39f2a577a4645ccb/DSCF2009.jpg" /> <img width="1000" height="687" width_o="1000" height_o="687" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/30e431f372d73b8c0e76822b22b5f8ad359166edc1fd40e2b32f4924dcdbadfc/DSCF1931-copy.jpg" data-mid="154300003" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/30e431f372d73b8c0e76822b22b5f8ad359166edc1fd40e2b32f4924dcdbadfc/DSCF1931-copy.jpg" /> <img width="1000" height="701" width_o="1000" height_o="701" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/34a3392a6b5a8fbab3565075f577bcc8458589e7ce03fb94d5343f42bf5511fc/DSCF1983.jpg" data-mid="154300004" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/34a3392a6b5a8fbab3565075f577bcc8458589e7ce03fb94d5343f42bf5511fc/DSCF1983.jpg" /> Photos by Florence Bass FLATPACK FESTIVAL PERFORMANCE, SEPT 2021 <img width="1181" height="786" width_o="1181" height_o="786" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f7fed2525e0993f9c4168b3df5eb7ce1ffd9b26e0d0df37ae67c0659180fe64f/Flatpack2021_Dawta_17.jpg" data-mid="154300757" border="0" data-scale="78" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/f7fed2525e0993f9c4168b3df5eb7ce1ffd9b26e0d0df37ae67c0659180fe64f/Flatpack2021_Dawta_17.jpg" /> <img width="1181" height="771" width_o="1181" height_o="771" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/bee9263715a5f111248f645a56f406a540c0bd386d743e9994a8ed7a1fc52dbc/Flatpack2021_Dawta_01.jpg" data-mid="154300773" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/bee9263715a5f111248f645a56f406a540c0bd386d743e9994a8ed7a1fc52dbc/Flatpack2021_Dawta_01.jpg" /> <img width="1181" height="780" width_o="1181" height_o="780" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2c6c6540d359130ca6bf6afc22df7d56e6440f41b92621de381454767895fcf0/Flatpack2021_Dawta_24.jpg" data-mid="154300791" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/2c6c6540d359130ca6bf6afc22df7d56e6440f41b92621de381454767895fcf0/Flatpack2021_Dawta_24.jpg" /> <img width="1181" height="794" width_o="1181" height_o="794" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c4739ab7246f9446331e993d86f0f2cd6cb8ab1d3e7820aa3b7fbfbe1e2fe204/Flatpack2021_Dawta_18.jpg" data-mid="154300777" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/c4739ab7246f9446331e993d86f0f2cd6cb8ab1d3e7820aa3b7fbfbe1e2fe204/Flatpack2021_Dawta_18.jpg" /> <img width="1181" height="788" width_o="1181" height_o="788" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c82672763a98ae76e3efcd212befee6ce457a44af00f49de9da3034eb1d2c6b9/Flatpack2021_Dawta_13.jpg" data-mid="154300776" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/c82672763a98ae76e3efcd212befee6ce457a44af00f49de9da3034eb1d2c6b9/Flatpack2021_Dawta_13.jpg" /> <img width="836" height="1181" width_o="836" height_o="1181" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e85a7a2200f0b8fc77ded47edec291e6026edae884bed79346c735c103f148de/Flatpack2021_Dawta_19.jpg" data-mid="154300775" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/836/i/e85a7a2200f0b8fc77ded47edec291e6026edae884bed79346c735c103f148de/Flatpack2021_Dawta_19.jpg" /> Photos by&nbsp;Katja Ogrin A live documentation of this performance, filmed by Angelika Winnet and mixed by Kyle Acab was also filmed at Vogue Fabrics Dalston, to provide a legacy and archival document of the project.&nbsp; An EP of the project, collecting songs from the performance/short film is avaliable to buy online at Ashman’s&nbsp;Spirit Sigh BandcampGuitars, vocals, lyrics, synths and production: Jessica AshmanDrums: Bimpe AlliuRecorded, mixed and mastered by Mark Estall at Marketstall Recording <img width="2000" height="2058" width_o="2000" height_o="2058" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/abda1a7415abfd9baee9da179828f29acfa61f977cf92d4ebae1bf40574fe7aa/bandcamp-album.jpg" data-mid="154301351" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/abda1a7415abfd9baee9da179828f29acfa61f977cf92d4ebae1bf40574fe7aa/bandcamp-album.jpg" /> <img width="1440" height="1440" width_o="1440" height_o="1440" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/27ed7b2f2e1ba165b98ea1d61d1e57bb41ad5a2cf81aaa8cb2b26c3a01af9a15/5716FE1E-CE95-4C4C-97EF-EC938319E602.JPG" data-mid="154302061" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/27ed7b2f2e1ba165b98ea1d61d1e57bb41ad5a2cf81aaa8cb2b26c3a01af9a15/5716FE1E-CE95-4C4C-97EF-EC938319E602.JPG" /> https://jessicaashman.com/DAWTA-Single-channel-short-film-2021 Tue, 27 Sep 2022 16:11:10 +0000 Jessica Ashman - Artist https://jessicaashman.com/DAWTA-Single-channel-short-film-2021 DAWTA (2021) -Trailer from Jessica Ashman on Vimeo. <img width="3000" height="1680" width_o="3000" height_o="1680" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b5c04952c2d481ef222d227ab0ff95e9d2a2e23729d0d6db716581d46f4c1ab9/05.jpg" data-mid="154312557" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b5c04952c2d481ef222d227ab0ff95e9d2a2e23729d0d6db716581d46f4c1ab9/05.jpg" /> <img width="3000" height="1679" width_o="3000" height_o="1679" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b99438946468d0e6ebf314fbac8f586fea0d2a38c3e05446f2823a9dae036d04/01.jpg" data-mid="154312523" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b99438946468d0e6ebf314fbac8f586fea0d2a38c3e05446f2823a9dae036d04/01.jpg" /> <img width="3000" height="1686" width_o="3000" height_o="1686" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6c94cec17ee333ddb13101499ba06505ff7cfac57ba3717cf39a2958007b3f2d/02.jpg" data-mid="154312535" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/6c94cec17ee333ddb13101499ba06505ff7cfac57ba3717cf39a2958007b3f2d/02.jpg" /> <img width="3000" height="1676" width_o="3000" height_o="1676" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ff17b15a15716879f8587ef0238afcde6b19f64d44081f6b61a7660c657aff71/04.jpg" data-mid="154312548" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/ff17b15a15716879f8587ef0238afcde6b19f64d44081f6b61a7660c657aff71/04.jpg" /> <img width="2880" height="1599" width_o="2880" height_o="1599" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7eb3d1f0512f09cda160fe5edfe074ec372341e77ec56d441c589b8ec3313b08/06.jpg" data-mid="154312559" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/7eb3d1f0512f09cda160fe5edfe074ec372341e77ec56d441c589b8ec3313b08/06.jpg" /> <img width="3000" height="1676" width_o="3000" height_o="1676" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e3628c8b1763e7243f529bd882eb932e7b20595ed2e148af0228c1c49108f84a/03.jpg" data-mid="154312561" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/e3628c8b1763e7243f529bd882eb932e7b20595ed2e148af0228c1c49108f84a/03.jpg" /> “I have the same power as you. Let my power guide you forward.”Dawta tells the story of a young Black woman, running away from a pivotal moment in her family history. Guided by two elders, she discovers a safe, future utopian planet for Black women through a mysterious superpower. Inspired by the artist Jessica Ashman’s own family history of migration and trans-racial fostering, Dawta explores the idea of inherited cycles of trauma within Black women and asks the question: can the energy this trauma brings be harnessed? Can this power be used to discover new dimensions of hope and a future that pushes past the colonial and imperial histories intertwined in Black consciousness?Inspired by the work of seminal Black science fiction author, Octavia Butler (in particular, her time travelling odyssey, ’Kindred’), Dawta combines experimental animation techniques and live musical performance to create a sci-fi narrative of interdimensional time travel, questioning the possibilities of imagining better futures for the Black diaspora. This short film is part of a multi-layered project which includes an audio visual performance and EP release from Ashman’s music project, Spirit Sigh A film by Jessica Ashman, produced by Abigail Addison at Animate Projects, and supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England Music by Spirit Sigh featuring Bimpe Alliu, recorded, mixed and mastered at Marketstall Recordings by Mark Estall. Film Sound Mixed by Chris Smith at Kluster Rooms Voice of The Grandmother - Leah Arscott Additional Animation by Laura. N. Tamara Colouring Assistance from Leah Morris Additional Live Action Footage Camera by Leanne Davies and Sameer ShastriPublications quoted from the archives of the Black Cultural Archives and The Library of Birmingham:“Black Families Offer Pride and Identity” - Janet Boateng, The Independent, 1989“Culture Question Mark Over Black Adoption” – West Indian World, 1980“Reality facing young blacks who are brought up white” - Howard Foster, Daily Express, 1983“Directory of Homes and Hostels for the Care of Unmarried Mothers and Illegitimate children” by National Council for the Unmarried Mother and her Child, 1953Additional quotes from ‘Kindred’ and ‘Parable of the Sower’ by Octavia Butler. © Jessica Ashman 2021 https://jessicaashman.com/The-Onyx-Shroud-2022-GIPHY-commission Tue, 27 Sep 2022 16:19:44 +0000 Jessica Ashman - Artist https://jessicaashman.com/The-Onyx-Shroud-2022-GIPHY-commission <img width="2176" height="2679" width_o="2176" height_o="2679" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ac79663dfd53e34a3bf96085c5ee623d42a592a2b7058dc26085f3ab29df475b/poster-onyx-shroud.jpg" data-mid="154313413" border="0" data-scale="56" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/ac79663dfd53e34a3bf96085c5ee623d42a592a2b7058dc26085f3ab29df475b/poster-onyx-shroud.jpg" />Within the deeps of Blackness is her own Onyx Shroud. Watch the film here -&nbsp;https://giphy.com/clips/IJTNFu2Tp7rGO5WyGZ A commission for the online GIF sharing platform, GIPHY, The Onyx Shroud explores concepts of Black diaspora identity within an ambient horror soundscape. Only 30 seconds in length, the whole film can be seen in a variety of short clips, designed to be self contained and played on a loop.&nbsp; Ashman talked further about the project over at Giphy’s Artist Blog.<img width="800" height="450" width_o="800" height_o="450" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/841915b95668f538f8937d8e47705144ddb2260e98278d2a8d829f6bb47c21e1/ezgif.com-gif-maker-1.gif" data-mid="154315760" border="0" data-scale="73" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/800/i/841915b95668f538f8937d8e47705144ddb2260e98278d2a8d829f6bb47c21e1/ezgif.com-gif-maker-1.gif" /><img width="800" height="450" width_o="800" height_o="450" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a5f6b9bf640f8a1d9422ce9a13dd4c457f2b6af748360c302cf707fe8bb7b560/ezgif.com-gif-maker-1.gif" data-mid="154315551" border="0" data-scale="74" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/800/i/a5f6b9bf640f8a1d9422ce9a13dd4c457f2b6af748360c302cf707fe8bb7b560/ezgif.com-gif-maker-1.gif" /> <img width="800" height="450" width_o="800" height_o="450" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8371ea12438b03375bb38eac019f0694aadf9825f09f128c9bcc2e6b062f9c38/ezgif.com-gif-maker-1.gif" data-mid="154315274" border="0" data-scale="73" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/800/i/8371ea12438b03375bb38eac019f0694aadf9825f09f128c9bcc2e6b062f9c38/ezgif.com-gif-maker-1.gif" /> https://jessicaashman.com/Utopia-Portals-2022-Single-Channel-And-Soundscape Tue, 27 Sep 2022 15:26:53 +0000 Jessica Ashman - Artist https://jessicaashman.com/Utopia-Portals-2022-Single-Channel-And-Soundscape Utopia Portals (2022, single channel, 2D drawn animation and phone footage) Utopia Portals explores utopian concepts of belonging and ‘unbelonging’. Inspired by the Ashman’s first trip to her ancestral homeland of Jamaica, Utopia Portals uses a mix of animated loops, mobile phone footage and soundscapes recorded during her time on the island to create a series of short filmic ‘glitches’ of reality that reveal various forms of surreal hidden worlds. The piece is inspired by the idea of ‘heterotopia’: a concept put forward by the French philosopher Michel Foucault to describe certain cultural spaces that are somehow ‘other’: contradictory or transforming in nature. &nbsp;Utopia Portals delves into the dreams, desires, nightmares and reality of a “homecoming” to a home you are not connected to. Utopia Portals was commisioned by Focal Point Gallery for Big Screen Southend. Awarded through a call for submissions in 2020, Utopia Portals launched on 19 February and continued until June 12th 2022, playing on a loop outside the gallery. <img width="2048" height="1365" width_o="2048" height_o="1365" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d67a79527b57b4476e3227074e88ed582f74173915e7545d608a911b6dc23b8a/202203FPG_ALUKALA-71.jpg" data-mid="154317289" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/d67a79527b57b4476e3227074e88ed582f74173915e7545d608a911b6dc23b8a/202203FPG_ALUKALA-71.jpg" /> <img width="2048" height="1365" width_o="2048" height_o="1365" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/134bf6aed12abe239d1bf1ff13749113c3aeb447149142a3d2e1fa9383446f21/202203FPG_ALUKALA-83.jpg" data-mid="154317244" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/134bf6aed12abe239d1bf1ff13749113c3aeb447149142a3d2e1fa9383446f21/202203FPG_ALUKALA-83.jpg" /> Photos by&nbsp;Anna Lukala <img width="800" height="450" width_o="800" height_o="450" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/350223a191a75350f8722ca025402e55b11d57f7b665ad0ac1fa36bda3863969/ezgif.com-gif-maker.gif" data-mid="154319084" border="0" data-scale="83" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/800/i/350223a191a75350f8722ca025402e55b11d57f7b665ad0ac1fa36bda3863969/ezgif.com-gif-maker.gif" /> <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0de4dd0374fd897199376a41d138c93b328139dd62d0057e27979fa09d435a7d/UP-Still_01.jpg" data-mid="154316046" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/0de4dd0374fd897199376a41d138c93b328139dd62d0057e27979fa09d435a7d/UP-Still_01.jpg" /> <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/5ab638696c48cc16c0d9f0e095048dc79f611e90a0dd081fe79f24d8dab9660b/UP_Still-02.jpg" data-mid="154316047" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/5ab638696c48cc16c0d9f0e095048dc79f611e90a0dd081fe79f24d8dab9660b/UP_Still-02.jpg" /> <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f44310b986bbca885a3d7cfe892f3f2074776cc0fd7efa9575b4260a9a623bb8/UP_Still-03.jpg" data-mid="154316048" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/f44310b986bbca885a3d7cfe892f3f2074776cc0fd7efa9575b4260a9a623bb8/UP_Still-03.jpg" /> <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/cee8f291a315f7528bfbc27a4eb39c95f5be642199a835bab573dfcb6e26d7f0/UP_Still_04.jpg" data-mid="154316049" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/cee8f291a315f7528bfbc27a4eb39c95f5be642199a835bab573dfcb6e26d7f0/UP_Still_04.jpg" /> <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9cdff959cbb93c57f91feb463e67cbd7cde1e367e00d5f7bba1b095e89bcba40/UP_Still_06.jpg" data-mid="154316051" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/9cdff959cbb93c57f91feb463e67cbd7cde1e367e00d5f7bba1b095e89bcba40/UP_Still_06.jpg" /> In response to Utopia Portals, artists Beverley Bennett, Khaleb Brooks and Richard Phoenix have collaborated with Ashman to create a soundscape that reacts to the themes, emotions and energy presented in this new moving image commission. The artists worked in a ‘call and response’ way, recording elements of music and poetry, sending them to each other and responding accordingly. This compliments the method that Ashman used to make ‘Utopia Portals’, which was created from an amalgamation of field recordings, mobile phone footage and animation filmed during her time visiting her ancestral motherland of Jamaica for the first time. CreditsProduction: Jessica Ashman and Richard PhoenixGuitar, vocals and sound design: Jessica AshmanSpoken Word: Beverley Bennett and Khaleb BrooksBass and drums: Richard PhoenixSteel Pan: Beverley Bennett https://jessicaashman.com/Daughter-at-Supernormal-2019 Fri, 06 Mar 2020 15:06:23 +0000 Jessica Ashman - Artist https://jessicaashman.com/Daughter-at-Supernormal-2019 “A weight brings me back,a hope brings me close”. Combining experimental animation techniques and live performance, DAUGHTER explores the idea of inherited cycles of trauma in Blackness. It is a journey of escaping the past through the imagining of an unknown future; through the imagining of an unknown hope. It is inspired heavily from histories of trans-racial adoption and the specultalive fiction works of Octavia Butler, especially her seminal book, ‘Kindred’.This video shows a short documentation of the installation part of 'DAUGHTER'; that was screened and performed at the experimental music and arts festival, Supernormal in August 2019. The piece was developed during the Supernormal 2019 artists residency in June 2019; The week-long residency provided participating artists with the opportunity to explore their creative practice within the unique context of Braziers Park, (the estate where Supernormal takes place) and develop a new work for the festival. ‘DAUGHTER’ was installed in an old Victorian greenhouse onsite of the festival, which is also where the performance took place. The project has since recieved Arts Council England funding and has been developed into a longer audio visual performance, single channel piece and EP, called ‘DAWTA’ Images of the performances and GIFs of the 2019 edit can be seen below. <img width="720" height="405" width_o="720" height_o="405" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/5ad9e5433900cc78dfd3538763f7d38e1e0872ed415ab9ee304ca57bdb6179c6/dawta03.gif" data-mid="62880158" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/720/i/5ad9e5433900cc78dfd3538763f7d38e1e0872ed415ab9ee304ca57bdb6179c6/dawta03.gif" /><img width="720" height="405" width_o="720" height_o="405" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/bb2798d3965a1a8cf513b9aa53a00faf38465328007b53b009383affa932f126/dawta04.gif" data-mid="62880159" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/720/i/bb2798d3965a1a8cf513b9aa53a00faf38465328007b53b009383affa932f126/dawta04.gif" /> <img width="720" height="405" width_o="720" height_o="405" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ce08538434f456e27e909ca630a1fa58d538d2d182f4cc8155943aaf28990909/dawta02.gif" data-mid="62880156" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/720/i/ce08538434f456e27e909ca630a1fa58d538d2d182f4cc8155943aaf28990909/dawta02.gif" /> <img width="720" height="405" width_o="720" height_o="405" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/976f493ae142430680e785c69ff25651df97cc991370a9e15805dcaa35776864/dawta01.gif" data-mid="62880155" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/720/i/976f493ae142430680e785c69ff25651df97cc991370a9e15805dcaa35776864/dawta01.gif" /> <img width="2000" height="1123" width_o="2000" height_o="1123" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b09eb0e5925226f7e83577f377077bbf71bc85ee6275f6ba8b8d4812b31100da/04.jpg" data-mid="62878954" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b09eb0e5925226f7e83577f377077bbf71bc85ee6275f6ba8b8d4812b31100da/04.jpg" /> <img width="2000" height="1123" width_o="2000" height_o="1123" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/52f280c01364fc7eaa3d591979d720de9c7ae4603bf3e76843843467aa3a586a/02.jpg" data-mid="62878952" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/52f280c01364fc7eaa3d591979d720de9c7ae4603bf3e76843843467aa3a586a/02.jpg" /> <img width="2000" height="1123" width_o="2000" height_o="1123" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/846780cfe5095e9e436e44dfe00fb139a1eb4bc748732ad86c6157e5736ad6d8/01.jpg" data-mid="62878951" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/846780cfe5095e9e436e44dfe00fb139a1eb4bc748732ad86c6157e5736ad6d8/01.jpg" /> <img width="2000" height="1123" width_o="2000" height_o="1123" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/30a75d7a401ba9b6ae6f348cff12ea35857386bb712719c585ee0fc1322aee4f/03.jpg" data-mid="62878953" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/30a75d7a401ba9b6ae6f348cff12ea35857386bb712719c585ee0fc1322aee4f/03.jpg" /> <img width="2000" height="1123" width_o="2000" height_o="1123" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3a14ba89f4336ab9a3a1f158a0070f3b8c12573cb426d0bc824078765762c2fe/06.jpg" data-mid="62878956" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/3a14ba89f4336ab9a3a1f158a0070f3b8c12573cb426d0bc824078765762c2fe/06.jpg" /> <img width="2000" height="1123" width_o="2000" height_o="1123" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/af4ba93bf6fea4edec99c8dd447fc255ad3dc05772a19d4bc7bf83315083e57f/07.jpg" data-mid="62878957" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/af4ba93bf6fea4edec99c8dd447fc255ad3dc05772a19d4bc7bf83315083e57f/07.jpg" /> <img width="2000" height="1123" width_o="2000" height_o="1123" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f5aa33c89b89cb1cb54cebfc47c43c8abf137ae5188696d9a808719be5e9a699/08.jpg" data-mid="62878958" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/f5aa33c89b89cb1cb54cebfc47c43c8abf137ae5188696d9a808719be5e9a699/08.jpg" /> https://jessicaashman.com/Hold-Tight-2018 Thu, 01 Nov 2018 16:10:13 +0000 Jessica Ashman - Artist https://jessicaashman.com/Hold-Tight-2018 ‘Hold Tight’ explores the importance of Carnival across the UK and how it’s celebrations provide an important lifeline to heritage and identity for younger generations of the Black Caribbean diaspora in Britain. It is a journey into the feeling of belonging, through the rituals of Carnival attendance and the power of bass. <img width="720" height="405" width_o="720" height_o="405" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/61897b9961a24fa8912548300098357c090a742486218f1d1f7b634c66cf6228/03.gif" data-mid="27544870" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/720/i/61897b9961a24fa8912548300098357c090a742486218f1d1f7b634c66cf6228/03.gif" /> <img width="720" height="405" width_o="720" height_o="405" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e472dbe29ee56522bdb6589c87d9e3e962e5c24154a849ba163c46b6110f39b3/05.gif" data-mid="27544803" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/720/i/e472dbe29ee56522bdb6589c87d9e3e962e5c24154a849ba163c46b6110f39b3/05.gif" /> <img width="720" height="405" width_o="720" height_o="405" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/29cb951ce6cd45335de9c3b668cff0e9793b456338b22a881b31e54a1dd6035e/06.gif" data-mid="27545077" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/720/i/29cb951ce6cd45335de9c3b668cff0e9793b456338b22a881b31e54a1dd6035e/06.gif" /> <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c8003c94d3c6522bb74890ec9ef651810be5f287defbf1bba2e7785d5610256e/02.jpg" data-mid="27544786" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/c8003c94d3c6522bb74890ec9ef651810be5f287defbf1bba2e7785d5610256e/02.jpg" /> <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/06cd284ec971f16e99903dedd2ef0e974c3db4aa832e7973ede09296e7bbc6c7/03.jpg" data-mid="27544787" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/06cd284ec971f16e99903dedd2ef0e974c3db4aa832e7973ede09296e7bbc6c7/03.jpg" /><img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/46a5e887df3a3949ecaa16020f2c4f5fcd94549d7ea1a921602f1f221187d0a3/04.jpg" data-mid="27544788" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/46a5e887df3a3949ecaa16020f2c4f5fcd94549d7ea1a921602f1f221187d0a3/04.jpg" /> Credits Directed and Animated by Jessica Ashman Featuring the voices of Jessica Ashman, Kayleigh Owen and Lyttanya Shannon Music by Skibu Foster Sound Design by Chris Smith at Kluster Rooms Produced by Abigail Addison Supported by Arts Council England and the BFI.