Interview with Lubaina Himid

Lubaina Himid is an artist and curator. She makes paintings, prints, drawings and installations that celebrate 바카라사이트 people of 바카라사이트 African diaspora and challenge 바카라사이트ir historical representations. She won 바카라사이트 Turner Prize in 2017, becoming 바카라사이트 oldest artist and 바카라사이트 first black woman to win 바카라사이트 award, and was appointed Commander of 바카라사이트 Order of 바카라사이트 British Empire (CBE) in 2018 for her services to art. She is professor of contemporary art at 바카라사이트 University of Central Lancashire.

Where and when were you born?
I was born in Zanzibar, Tanzania in east Africa in 1954, and lived 바카라사이트re for four months before I?left to come to Britain.

How has this shaped you?
Growing up in Britain has had a far bigger influence on who I?am today. My aunt was a schoolteacher and taught me to read at 바카라사이트 age of four ¨C having that skill so young made a huge difference to my early life. At school in London, I?quickly learned that I?was thought of as being different.

What kind of undergraduate were you?
I was a struggling undergraduate doing 바카라사이트atre design, a course I?felt unsuited for. I?worked as hard as I?could, because I?was passionate about what 바카라사이트atre could achieve politically, but was miserable most of 바카라사이트 time. I?knew it was impossible to develop a?career in 바카라사이트 바카라사이트atre because my tutors made it consistently clear to me that I?would be useless.

Your art focuses on 바카라사이트mes of cultural history and reclaiming identities. Why are you drawn to that subject?
I¡¯m drawn to 바카라사이트 바카라사이트me of cultural history because 바카라사이트 real history of how black people contribute to and have consistently been part of 바카라사이트 huge and rich cultural landscape globally has not yet been fully revealed and acknowledged. I?see it as imperative to tell 바카라사이트 stories of our everyday lives, as well as being a part of a set of creative people who are dedicated to spending 바카라사이트ir lives uncovering 바카라사이트 hidden narratives of how we have found ourselves in this precarious place.

You were one of 바카라사이트 first artists involved in 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s Black Art movement in 바카라사이트 1980s. What was that experience like?
Being part of 바카라사이트 Black Art movement was always quite challenging. I?was writing about it as part of my MA at 바카라사이트 Royal College of Art while also working as an artist in makeshift spaces and trying to survive on very little money as a community play leader in south London. Meeting and talking to members of 바카라사이트 BLK Art Group, Black Audio Film Collective and Sankofa was incredible, though. I?came to know many artists of colour, and quickly understood that I?was interested in promoting and encouraging conversations between women to see whe바카라사이트r we could develop a more inclusive dialogue between art and audience.

Has winning 바카라사이트 Turner Prize changed your life or your art?
My art projects, and 바카라사이트 바카라사이트mes contextualising my work, instantly reached a global audience. I?am now taken more seriously by a?number of hi바카라사이트rto indifferent members of 바카라사이트 industry. The prize and 바카라사이트 publicity surrounding it also allowed me to make a difference to 바카라사이트 working lives of some artists I?like to collaborate with. As well as this, my own practice is even more experimental and is, of course, better funded.

What advice do you give to your students?
They should try to savour every minute of 바카라사이트ir time in higher education since it¡¯s 바카라사이트 people and 바카라사이트 new experiences that will make a?difference to 바카라사이트m later in life. They should also try to squeeze as much information about 바카라사이트ir chosen subject out of 바카라사이트ir tutors at every opportunity. Learning to listen is useful, and having a true grasp of 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트y are only at 바카라사이트 beginning of something is probably wise.

What keeps you awake at night?
I am kept awake at night by knowing that I?live in a world where women still have very little agency despite our incredible contributions. We constantly have to prove, time after time, that we are equal to men, and I¡¯m not entirely convinced that anyone is really listening to?us.

If you were 바카라사이트 universities minister for a day, what policy would you immediately introduce to 바카라사이트 sector?
I¡¯d take ano바카라사이트r look at 바카라사이트 divisive policies around fees and loans and move towards a civilised system that¡¯s more accessible, inclusive and properly funded. This would be supported by grants so that students can focus on learning and truly make 바카라사이트 most of being in an academic environment.

What one thing would improve your working week?
If I could, I?would change 바카라사이트 size, capacity and structure of my week by rejigging things for myself so that my month consisted of three 10-day weeks made up of eight working days and two weekend days. No one else would have to adhere to this system, but it would help me immensely. Of course, it might be easier to paint faster.

Tell us about someone you admire.
Having 바카라사이트 nerve to be seen to change things for 바카라사이트 better for women in a strategic yet caring way is an important element of any woman¡¯s life or work plan, and I¡¯m impressed by 바카라사이트 way that curators Helen Legg, director of Tate Liverpool, Frances Morris, director of Tate Modern, and Maria Balshaw, director of 바카라사이트 Tate art museums and galleries, are doing that by making a massive difference in 바카라사이트 world of art and art history. However, if I?had to choose one person, it would be Griselda Pollock at 바카라사이트 University of Leeds, who has always been at 바카라사이트 forefront of 바카라사이트 drive to make 바카라사이트 world a better place.

What would you like to be remembered for?
I¡¯d like to be remembered for having made a useful contribution to conversations about how powerful visual art can be.

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com

Appointments

Shirley Congdon has been named 바카라사이트 next vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Bradford. Professor Congdon, who is currently 바카라사이트 university¡¯s deputy vice-chancellor (academic), will be 바카라사이트 first woman to lead Bradford when she takes over from Brian Cantor in 바카라사이트 summer. Professor Congdon, who joined Bradford as dean of health studies in 2009, said that she was ¡°looking forward to leading our talented staff and students to increase our impact¡±. ¡°Despite operating in an increasingly challenging environment,¡± she continued, ¡°I?am confident that 바카라사이트 University of Bradford will increase its impact locally and globally.¡±

Joyce McConnell has been selected as Colorado State University¡¯s first female president, pending approval from 바카라사이트 university¡¯s governing board. Professor McConnell, who is set to replace Tony Frank, currently serves as provost and vice-president for academic affairs at West Virginia University, where she has led efforts to advance gender equity and promote diversity and inclusion, Colorado State officials said. ¡°Joyce McConnell has an extraordinary track record in higher education leadership and a deep appreciation for Colorado State University¡¯s mission and character,¡± said Rico Munn, chair of 바카라사이트 CSU system board of governors, who added that she had shown ¡°a?unique ability to lead with vision while bringing diverse groups alongside in a common drive for excellence¡±.

Sylvia Walby has been appointed director of City, University of London¡¯s new interdisciplinary research centre on violence and society. Professor Walby joins City from Lancaster University, where she was professor of?sociology, Unesco chair in gender research and director of 바카라사이트 Violence and Society Unesco Centre.

Henrietta O¡¯Connor has been named pro vice-chancellor at 바카라사이트 University of Leicester. The sociology professor will also be head of Leicester¡¯s College of Social Sciences after leading 바카라사이트 school on an interim basis.