In this podcast Nazima Kadir, from The October Anthropoligst, and Abbas Zahedi discuss their works presented as part of Brent Biennial, as well as themes and ideas they have in common within both their practices.
Abbas Zahedi is a London based artist, known for his interdisciplinary blend of social practice, performance, installation, moving-image, institution-building and writing. His practice emerged out of working with migrant and marginalised communities in the UK to explore the concept of neo-diaspora, and the ways in which personal and collective histories interweave.
Zahedi is the ninth South London Gallery Postgraduate artist in residence (2019-2020). Recent exhibitions and performances include South London Gallery; Spike Island, Bristol; Whitechapel Gallery, London; Wolverhampton Art Gallery, UK; and the 57th Venice Biennale, Italy. Recent workshops, lectures and residency projects include Raven Row, London; Wysing Arts Centre, UK; Tate Britain and Tate Exchange, UK. Zahedi was awarded a School for Social Entrepreneurs (PwC) Fellowship in 2017 for his community work in the UK.
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The October Anthropologist is a global anthropological consultancy that specializes in conducting anthropological research for a wide variety of purposes: from public art and education to innovation and design. Nazima Kadir, the principal, is an anthropologist with a PhD from Yale who has over 20 years of experience conducting anthropological research and translating the findings interactively with stakeholders. Her book, "The Autonomous Life," published by Manchester University Press, was based on 3.5 years of living and working in a squatters' community in Amsterdam and shortlisted for the BBC Ethnography award. It was featured on Radio 4 and Wired magazine.
Åbäke is a collective established in London in 2000. Much of their work concentrates on the social aspect of design and the strength that collaboration can bring to a project.
Supported by the 2020 Culture Fund.