Art of Devotion: Belief, Faith and Spirit in Creative Practice

This course takes a specific Black, queer and feminist look at contemporary interpretations of divinity, ritual and sacred space to explore how subjects have established belief systems inside and outside of religious doctrine. It will draw from ancestral wisdom, art and literature, embodied knowledge, memes and music - without hierarchy; centring how Black and queer/ women and non-binary folk, in particular, have sought liberation and transcendence.

Week 1: Public Space as Ritual Space

We will discuss the role of ritual in public space through the practices of Grace Ndiritu, Nap Ministry and Barbara McCullough; whose installations,

performances and moving image works will frame the conversation. We’ll be watching and reading extracts from the following references:

Watch: Grace Ndiritu’s Live Performance: A Therapeutic Townhall Meeting: Healing the Museum

Read: The Nap Ministry: The Future is Now: Why Octavia Butler Is Our Muse.

Watch: Barbara McCollough Shopping Bag Spirits and Freeway Fetishes 1979

Discussion Questions:

● How do the artists featured in the material above confirm or challenge your understanding

of what public art is?

● What role can public ritual play in transforming the present moment?

Week 2: Performing Rights/Rites

We will discuss performative acts of rights and rites through the practices of Maud Sulter, Jelili Atiku and Evan Ifekoya : whose photography and performances will frame the conversation. We’ll be watching and reading extracts from the following references if possible take the time to read and watch in advance of the lesson.  

Read: Maud Sulter: Passion

‘Clio (Dorethea Smartt)’, Zabat photograph series by Maud Sulter, 1989

We will also be looking at Jelili Atiku’s Eleegba (Oginrinringinrin III) and Lagos In the Red.

Oginrinringinrin is a Yoruba word that literally means deep insight.

In Jelili’s work it’s used to refer to the potentiality of the human body as it becomes symbolic objects and metaphorical contents that will aid the expansion of human awareness on critical issues of human values and security.

Watch: Lagos in the Red (English subtitles) & 'Eleegba (Oginrinringinrin III)'.

Look: No1: ‘Start from a place of Abundance’ (from the Ritual Without Belief photography series), Evan Ifekoya, installed at Southbank Centre London, 2020

Explore: Ritual Without Belief, exhibition at Gasworks London 2018

Discussion Questions:

  • Consider the relationship between text (titles) and image in these artists' work.

  • What are the ways these artists explore both rights and rites?

Week 3: Sacred Water

We will discuss the role of water in ritual and sacred space through the practices of Sharon Bridgforth, Alexis Pauline Gumbs and Calida Rawles: whose painting, performance and writing will frame the conversation. We’ll be watching and reading extracts from the following references, if possible take the time to read and watch in advance of the lesson.

Watch: DOCUMENTARY: dat Black Mermaid Man Lady/Performance Installation 

Listen: Alexis Pauline Gumbs — who yo people is 

Read: Calida Rawles, Wade In the Water

Discussion Questions:

  • How does experiencing these works feel? Do any physical sensations arise in your body? 

  • Discuss the role of water in ritual and sacred space