Decolonising the Body: Empowering Workshops and An Inspiring Exhibition
Skaped’s transformative series of workshops and an accompanying exhibition sought to, spark conversation, challenge norms, and empowering us to reimagine the relationship between identity, culture, and the body. These events, collectively known as the Decolonising Body Workshops and Exhibition, offered us a platform to explore, deconstruct, and reconstruct the narratives surrounding the body in a post-colonial context.
The workshops, led by artists and activists from diverse backgrounds, provided a space for dialogue, reflection, and creative expression. Through a variety of mediums, including visual arts, performance, poetry, and storytelling, we delved into the complexities of decolonising the body—unpacking centuries of colonial influence, reclaiming cultural heritage, and celebrating individual and collective resilience.
One of our Decolonising the Body workshops
WORKSHOP 1- Colonisation and the body
In this workshop we were encouraged was to explore how colonialism has impacted the way they perceive our bodies. This was followed by an activity where we got to create personal timelines of the impact that colonisation had in their lives.
WORKSHOP 2- Decolonising Menstruation
We got to explore and discuss collectively decolonisation of the menstrual cycle. To understand this more, we got to create a watercolour depiction of what their utopian world would look like if colonisation did not exist.
WORKSHOP 3- Intersectional Beauty- with Guest speaker DR Samar Abdelrahman
This workshop allowed us t to explore the impact that colonisation has on POC and specifically women of Colour. We had guest speaker DR Samar Abdelrahman who helped us to understand how intersectionality plays a role in colonisers impacting different POC based on identity and context.
WORKSHOP 4 Body and mind- with Special guest panel -with Guest Panel with Abigail Popple, Yaa Yeboah-Newton, Cam Lesforis
In this workshop, we got to practice ways to find alignment within the body and mind through an iterative and creative practice of mindfulness and self-care. This also included an activity that focused on a mindful clay activity. The aim of this activity was to appreciate the need for unity and balance between mind, body and its cycles.
WORKSHOP 5- Museums, Art and bodies
we got to learn what influences colonial powers had on galleries, libraries, art, and museums. (GLAM). To take it a step further participants also focused on how these influences have affected the way they create art. The activity for the workshop focused on curating a miniature exhibition for a 2D museum.
Overall, we got to understand the power of the collective vs the individual and how a collaborative art environment doesn’t have to rely on past social structures.
WORKSHOP 6 – Decolonised Bodies
In our final workshop, we were able to evaluate all past workshops and create connections between them to find understanding in what it means to decolonise body and what cycles influence their own bodies and how they have been limited by past colonising mental structures. This was followed by an activity where we were able to reflect on past timelines where they got to think about the future and how we can break cycles that lead to personal empowerment.
The Decolonising Exhibition which took place from 5th-6th April
Exhibition
Following the workshops, the culmination of this transformative journey was the Decolonising Body Exhibition, where artists showcased their works inspired by the themes explored throughout the workshops. From thought-provoking installations to striking visual art pieces, each exhibit offered a unique perspective on the process of decolonising the body and reclaiming autonomy over one's narrative.
This exhibition serves as a platform for these artists to explore and interrogate the complex intersections of culture, history, and identity, while amplifying voices that have long been marginalised or silenced.
Through their diverse mediums, these artists delve into the depths of personal and collective narratives, shedding light on the multifaceted dimensions of the body as a site of resistance, resilience, and reclamation. From visual representations to performance art, each piece invites viewers to confront preconceived notions, challenge ingrained stereotypes, and embrace the beauty of diversity in all its forms.
As we navigate through this exhibition, we are confronted with narratives that transcend borders and defy categorisation weaving together threads of heritage, trauma, and triumph. It is within this space of artistic expression and exploration that we are invited to reflect, engage, and ultimately, to envision a world where the body is liberated from the shackles of colonialism and allowed to flourish in its full complexity and richness.
Artist in residence interview
In this interview, we delve into the experiences and perspectives of some artists in residency for the “Decolonising the Body” project.
1. How has your experience in the decolonising the body workshops influenced your artistic practice during your residency?
Tiffany Chan: “The decolonising the body workshops during my residency have significantly influenced my artistic practice. They inspired me to delve into intimate moments of decolonisation within my illustrations, confronting systemic oppression and reclaiming narratives. Through playful and surrealist imagery, you challenge the dominance of white supremacy, reflecting the insights gained from these workshops.”
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Renee: “The workshops have gave me a space for collective reflection and tapping into a community with rich and diverse experiences. Every week, I was able to share and listen to different personal experiences of how decolonisation has shaped our lives. It has really reminded me that capturing this sentiment of resistance, of pain, and of introspection is layered, complex and a long process. Resistance is not a solitary journey, remaining connected to people and understanding how our different journeys intersect is a necessary part of the process.”
2.Can you walk us through your creative process and how you translate ideas about decolonisation into your artwork?
Tiffany Chan: “My creative process involves incorporating symbolism, such as the repetition of whitening cream and pads, along with echoing phrases, to guide viewers into the infinite world of decolonisation. Collaborative practices and community engagement are integral to your process, allowing for a deeper understanding of my identity and fostering solidarity with others.”
Renee: “For ‘Bounded’ which is part of the exhibition, I was thinking a lot about national identity and the ways it shapes my personal relationship with my own body. By playing around with the concept of the passport, I wondered to what extent we can disentangle personal and national identity in a world where power/control/domination is directly linked to nation states. As part of the installation, I ask the viewer ‘what does home mean to you?’ in an attempt to query the idea of static borders and nation.”
3. What challenges, if any, have you encountered in exploring decolonisation within your artistic work during the residency?
Tiffany Chan: “While exploring decolonisation within your artistic work, I have encountered challenges such as navigating complex historical and cultural contexts, addressing power imbalances, and ensuring ethical representation.”
Renee: “The trickiest part of the process was probably figuring out which medium would be most effective to communicate my ideas. There are so many different ways to go about addressing the themes we discussed in the workshops and I was really overwhelmed at first. But being an Artist-in-Residence, I was able to speak to my mentor, Bza, and members of the Skaped team to really hone in my ideas. If it were left to me I might have hired a construction team and built a whole set, but deconstructing my ideas to get to the heart of the message was something I had to learn.”
4. How do you define “decolonisation of the body” in the context of your artistic practice?
Tiffany Chan: “Decolonisation of the body involves confronting systemic oppression, reclaiming narratives, and challenging dominant beauty standards imposed by colonial and patriarchal gazes. I empower individuals to redefine their sense of self beyond these oppressive norms, using art as a tool for healing and liberation.”
Renee: “For me, it all comes to listening. Listening internally to what my body needs, listening to and learning from the experiences of people around me, and listening to the spaces my body moves through. My poetry and film work are inspired by giving voice to these feelings and experiences.”
5. What do you hope audiences will take away from experiencing your artwork on decolonising the body?
Tiffany Chan:
“Through my artwork on decolonising the body, I hope audiences will gain awareness of colonial legacies and interrogate dominant narratives. My illustrations provide a platform for self-expression and foster a deeper understanding of alternative perspectives on beauty, identity, and self-worth”.
Renee: “I hope it brings them space to reflect and feel connected to other people.”
Beyond the artistic expressions themselves, the Decolonising Body Exhibition served as a catalyst for broader conversations about representation, identity, and power dynamics within the art world and society at large. By centering marginalised voices and challenging dominant narratives, the exhibition invited attendees to confront their own biases and assumptions, fostering empathy, understanding, and solidarity by celebrating the work of our community.
As the workshops and exhibition ended, we left with a renewed sense of purpose and possibility—a collective commitment to continue the work of decolonising the body, both within themselves and in the world around them. In a society still grappling with the legacies of colonialism, these events served as a powerful reminder of the transformative potential of art to inspire change, challenge norms, and envision a more inclusive and equitable future for all.
