Temporarily CLOSED after 23 December; reopening dates tbc
*VISITS MUST BE PRE-BOOKED*
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Tramway is delighted to present ‘Traveller’, the first exhibition in the UK by multi-disciplinary artist Rajni Perera.
Sri Lanka-born Toronto-based artist Perera’s bold and intricately crafted paintings, sculptures, textile works, and installations explore issues of ancestorship, hybridity, futurity, and identity through the lens of science fiction. Influenced by a range of visual references including Indian miniaturisim, Astro-blackness, paleontology, magical realism, scientific illustration and fashion as well as her personal experiences of migration, Perera’s works evoke alternative histories, new mythologies and possible futures for the diasporic individual. On entering her immersive installations, we encounter vivid, futuristic worlds bought to life by a distinctive visual language which incorporates traditional techniques and crafts such as embellishment, weaving, woodwork and basketry. The ancestral legacies embodied in these techniques are forged into ornate, protective garments which become spiritual suits of armour for an empowered and resilient ‘Traveller’ of the future.
The exhibition ‘Traveller’ encompasses a series of vignettes of a story about the future of humans which positions the diasporic body as the focus of the future. The Travellers and the world/s they inhabit are portrayed across a constellation of works which encompasses meticulously painted portraits, garments, busts and a large statue within an immersive exhibition environment. Together they create a dialogue between past, present and future evoking the sense that we are witnessing museum artefacts from a potential future not yet come to pass.
In addition, the exhibition includes a number of tools and garments conceived to protect the Traveller from a polluted environment following environmental collapse. Three elaborately embellished face masks are displayed on plinths, created in 2019 and described as ‘pollution wear’ they also convey notions of protection and survival being played out in our present moment.
Described by Negarra A.Kudumu in the accompanying text for the first iteration of the Traveller series ‘The Travellers are protected by way of ancestral armour developed for body and spirit, and adapted to fit behaviours of care and nourishment, while facing the dangers of off-world commute, inhospitable terrain, and territorial dispute. These vestments have been produced slowly, in some cases over the course of many centuries. Their mythologies join hands and worlds through bloodlines, through warp and weft, all the way through to the place where the formerly displaced are presently powerful, safe, protected and flourishing.’
This exhibition is funded by Creative Scotland and The High Commission of Canada in the UK, with additional support from Toronto Arts Council and Ontario Arts Council.
About Rajni Perera
Rajni Perera has been exhibited at the Phi Foundation (Montreal, Canada, 2020), Chromatic Festival (Montréal, Canada, 2019), the Museum of Contemporary Art (Toronto, Canada, 2018), The Museum of Modern Art (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) Art Metropole (Toronto, Canada, 2017), Gallery 44 (Toronto, Canada, 2017), the art Gallery of York University (Toronto, Canada, 2017), the Colombo Art Biennale (Edinburgh, UK, 2017), OTA Fine Arts (Tokyo, Japan 2017), Superchief Gallery (Brooklyn, USA, 2017), the Colombo Art Biennale (Colombo, Sri Lanka, 2016), The Public House of Art (Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2016), Art Dubai (Dubai, UAE, 2016) and the Art League Houston (Houston, USA, 2014), and other sites. The Art Gallery of Ontario acquired one of her artworks in 2019.
Image: Detail from Rajni Perera, Traveler, 2019
Mixed media on stretched cotton rag stock
40,6 x 20,5 cm (16″ x 12″)
Courtesy of Private collection
A Tramway Evolves short course delivered via ZOOM
BOOKINGS FOR THIS SESSION ARE NOW CLOSED
An introductory short course
Mon 25th, Tues 26th & Wed 27th of Jan (10.00 – 13.45)
(Please note if you book for this short course you will be expected to commit to attending all 3 workshops.)
The emphasis of this short course is to illustrate frameworks in the working processes of both dance and film art forms. The sessions aim to bridge the gap between moving body and moving image, and to provide participants with the basic knowledge needed to begin using the camera and its accompanying equipment in a choreographic way.
Film and moving techniques will be implemented, adapted and manipulated to adhere to the specific needs of the participants, resulting in attendees gaining practical experience with tools that inject an essence of hybridity into their ongoing practice.
To participate you will need access to the minimum equipment as follows: Mobile Phone, Editing Software, Laptop and a Webcam.
*BOOKING INFORMATION
Tramway Evolves sessions will be delivered digitally via ZOOM.
Please note if you book for this short course you will be expected to commit to attending all 3 workshops
Email tramwayopportunities@glasgowlife.org.uk with the name of the session you wish to book by 10am on Monday 18 January. We'd like to provide our facilitator with information on who will be participating so they can deliver a bespoke session. We therefore ask that you email a short paragraph about your practice, why this professional development opportunity is specifically suited to your needs, and why you want to attend. If you have any access requirements for ZOOM, please inform us on booking so that we can ensure your needs are supported.
Please note these sessions are designed for Scotland-based professional artists working within the field of contemporary performance, dance and live art. You are eligible to attend these sessions for free if your practice is routed within these specific artforms.
This programme is subsidised by Creative Scotland’s Performing Arts Venue Relief Fund which enables us to offer places to artists without charge. Please note that while these sessions have no fee for participation they do have a tangible financial value and limited capacity. When booking your space we ask you to take this into consideration, reflecting on whether attendance will specifically benefit your professional development and whether you can fully commit to the date and time.
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ABOUT THE MOTION DANCE COLLECTIVE
Award-winning screendance production company The Motion Dance Collective (The MDC) was founded in 2011 by director and choreographer, Omari 'Motion' Carter. Since its beginnings The MDC has gained worldwide recognition as a production company that presents thought-provoking work combining dance and moving image, using the hybrid practice that is screendance. The MDC aims to bring innovative dance-on-screen narratives to audiences, and engage artists with playful and educational digital-dance workshops.
About Tramway Evolves
Tramway Evolves is a dynamic programme of professional development sessions designed for artists working in dance, live art and contemporary performance facilitated by some of the UKs leading practitioners in the fields of artistic creation, production management, participatory practice and screen dance.
This array of sessions is intended to support artists with creative and logistical tools to evolve their working practices, explore adapting work for screen or outdoor contexts as well as understanding safe systems of work under Covid 19 restrictions.
*Bookings for this course have now closed*
Racism impacts the Scottish arts sector in systemic, structural and interpersonal ways. It is all our responsibilities to challenge and change this. This course aims to support cultural practitioners to embed antiracism in our practice. Over a course of six webinar style sessions participants will be able to explore antiracist values, antiracist practice and our own roles within systemic racism and white supremacy. We will be learning and discussing how to bring together antiracist values with everyday practice. Participants will be offered resources, reading and reflection materials.
Often the labour of dismantling racism is left to people of colour. This course is open to everybody, however it is designed for white arts and culture professionals working in Scotland who are looking to challenge racism. It will be focused on antiracist practice with and for artists, culture professionals and arts organisations.
These live 2-hour sessions will take place on Tuesdays from 2 February - 9 March 9 2021, 12-2pm
Led by Laurie Brown and Naomi Shoba, the course will include short talks and presentations, and group discussions.
TICKETS
Freelancer's fee - £33 for 6 sessions (includes a 10% booking fee)
Organisation fee - £88 for 6 sessions (includes a 10% booking fee)
Costs are subject to additional transaction fees
Image
Installation shot of Nick Cave: Until, Tramway 2019
With thanks to the artist
Photo by Nadia Lucchesi
Your Uncles, Rab Florence and Iain Connell, Burnistoun, are back for another round of drinks and another round of hilarious comedy as they set the world to rights.
Ages 18+
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Please note, these events are rescheduled as follows:
NEW DATE: Thu 5 Aug 2021 (originally moved from Sun 15 Mar 2020 to Sun 7 Feb 2021)
NEW DATE: Fri 6 Aug 2021 (originally moved from Fri 13 Mar 2020 to Fri 5 Feb 2021)
NEW DATE: Sat 7 Aug 2021 (originally moved from Sat 14 Mar 2020 to Sat 6 Feb 2021)
Tickets remain valid for the new date and are otherwise unchanged. Please contact us if you need to exchange your ticket to a different day and, availability permitting, we’ll do our best to accommodate you.