Dist Prof Anthony Forsyth RMIT Distinguished Lecture Series - Online Event
Dist Prof Anthony Forsyth RMIT Distinguished Lecture Series - Online Event
Tue, Aug 16, 2022 4:15 PM AEST (+10:00)
Free
FORMAT Photoforum with Anthony Bila
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Join FORMAT as they talk to artist Anthony Bila about the juxtaposition of his commercial and creative work and his exhibition at FORMAT21
About this event
FORMAT Producer, Debbie Cooper and FORMAT Coordinator Niamh Treacy will be in conversation with multi-disciplinary artist Anthony Bila, discussing his journey into commercial photography and film direction as well as his personal artistic practice and how these inform each other and his exhibition The power(lessness) of n(one) on display at QUAD, Derby as part of FORMAT21 Presents, and exhibited at virtual FORMAT21.
Anthony Bila is a multidisciplinary artist currently based in Johannesburg, South Africa, whose upbringing in the township of Tembisa, has informed his outlook on the world.
After receiving a Media Studies Diploma from the University of Johannesburg he went into advertising as a copywriter and creative director before ultimately leaving the industry to pursue a freelance career as a visual artist, film director and creative consultant.
The narratives of his work are deeply tied to family, identity, race and religion and the experiences of people of colour. Bila’s art crosses into portrait, fashion, documentary photography and the surreal, refusing to be boxed into a genre.
Bila is interested in how we communicate without speaking and choose to express ourselves in our appearance. Our clothes form the canvas that speaks before we do and has the power to subvert, challenge and resist the status quo or comply, acquiesce and submit to it.
The power(lessness) of (n)one (currently exhibited at QUAD & FORMAT21) explores how lockdown restrictions have compromised our sense of autonomy, taking into consideration the individualism of western culture versus the concept of community often found in African and Eastern culture has impacted our sense of control.
Here There Everywhere Artists:
Anthony Bila (South Africa), Uzoma Chidumaga Orji (Nigeria), Sipho Gongxeka (South Africa) were selected via a pan-African open-call for their visionary work dealing with complex, socio-political issues; representations of the digital, Queer daily life in townships and societal responses to Lockdown.
This exhibition has been organised through Here, There & Everywhere and their Africa/UK: Transforming Art Ecologies programme organised by New Art Exchange, which offers artistic collaborations through artist residencies, exhibitions and events.The Open Call was organised by QUAD, Derby. FORMAT, Here There Everywhere, New Art Exchange, in partnership with African Artists’ Foundation and Lagos Photo, Nigeria.
This talk will take place via Zoom and also live streamed to the FORMAT Facebook account. The link to access the talk will be sent to all registered attendees prior to the event.
FORMAT/QUAD is a registered charity and non-profit organisation. Proceeds from this and all other Photoforum events will go towards supporting our future activities.
