What does a sustained engagement with art and activism allow for? How can radical cultural practice forge solidarities across different communities, geographies and temporalities? Join Hoor Al Qasimi in conversation with curator Salah M. Hassan and artist Gavin Jantjes on the occasion of ‘To Be Free! A Retrospective 1970–2023’. Together, the guests explore the artist’s five-decade practice committed to furthering Black liberation––whether it be through direct action in anti-apartheid struggles in South Africa, artistic contributions to postcolonial movements or by foregrounding the contemporary legacies of slavery. Tune in to hear insights into the multifaceted journey of Jantjes, as he tells us how he continually challenged expectations of Black creativity through his work as a painter, printmaker, writer, curator and activist.

CREDITS

Host: Hoor Al Qasimi

Guests: Salah M. Hassan, Gavin Jantjes

Editorial and Content Producers: Jyoti Dhar, Kamayani Sharma, Mahshid Rafiei

Sound Producer and Editor: Basil Kisswani

Music: Abdullah Ibrahim, The Wedding (1978)

C: Abdullah Ibrahim© Edition Abdullah Ibrahim Ekapa 

Special Thanks: Nawar Al Qassimi, Carmen Hassan, Asad Siddique, Dima Abou Zannad