UP:RISE is a groundbreaking nationwide Augmented Reality public artwork from artist Baff Akoto exploring the pathology, history and underlying drivers of English civil unrest in the digital age.
Marking the 10th anniversary of the August 2011 “UK riots”, UP:RISE exhibits from August 6th 2021 via QR codes located nationwide in communities where incidents of unrest were recorded in the summer of 2011.
UP:RISE in Conversation & UP:RISE Creators
UP:RISE exhibition was accompanied by a public programme inviting people nationally to engage with different aspects of the work and dissect some of the themes through discussion, community workshops and online activities.
A review of the public programme that played an integral role in the UP:RISE exhibition.
UP:RISE In Conversation
A variety of talks bringing together artists, thought leaders, community and youth voices to explore the inherent themes of the work, delving into how digital networks connect marginalised people and shape real-world mass dissent.Please use the same images/videos and descriptions as on the UP:RISE page
How a community narrative became a national conversation. At the Bernie Grant Arts Centre, chaired by Dotun Adebayo with panelists: Jake Whyte / Franklin Boateng / Dr Patricia Kingori.
A conversation between artists Emily Moore and Baff Akoto.
Whose voices get heard? Whose lenses are we presented with? An online panel discussion with photographer Leroy Cooper, artist Fauziya Johnson, sociologist Dr Adam Elliott-Cooper, Cultural Producer & Development Strategist, Nike Jonah, Cultural Producer & Development Strategist. The event was chaired by Bolanle Tajudeen.
The widespread use of messaging services such as Blackberry Messenger to coordinate and organise many of the protests in 2011 was part of a new era of social media used for activism, bringing together large groups of disparate people into social movements. This conversation invites artists and activists to consider how we might use these technologies to bring about meaningful change. Speakers: Dr Francesca Sobande / Chantelle Lunt / Bea Freeman / Blue Saint & chaired by Maitreyi Maheshwari, Head of Programme at FACT
UP:RISE Creators
UP:RISE Creators is a public programme of work created with young people regionally to explore how they relate to the themes in the UP:RISE artwork. Facilitated by local artists supporting community/ creative organisations, they examined how the legacy of 2011 impacted their identities, communities and the spaces they inhabit, informing how they experience the world around them.
Made over 6 weeks of Saturday workshops facilitated by filmmaker David Alexander, the collective explored the impact of the 2011 uprisings, its legacy to the area of Tottenham and how it impacted their lives 10 years on. They were introduced to different approaches to filmmaking and experimented with different tools. Participants: Amna Ola / Deanietrea Mills-Campbell / Emanuel Missen / Malachi Pullar-Latchman / Michael Thompson / Mohammedally Shushtari.
A Recurring Dreams Production in association with Blulilli Projects Directed by Daniel ‘Blue Saint’ Sebuyange. Interviewees: Curtis Walker / Ngunan Adam / Buster Nugent /Terry Nimi-Malrko Sebuyange / Malik Al Nasir / Halle ‘Stay Fresh Dredz’ McPherson / Chantelle Lunt / Anne-Marie Martin / Francisco Carraaco.
Recorded live at FACT host Mimi sits down with Josh Ramsden, Chloe Muldoon, Maleka & Baff Akoto to discuss Liverpool’s part in the 2011 UK Riots that followed the shooting of Mark Duggan, exploring the role of media, community and institutionalised racism and how this can shape real-world mass dissent.
UP:RISE Study Day
BOM and ICF collaborated to present a study day curated by Candice Nembhard featuring contributions from Harun Morrison and Taiwo Ogunyinka as part of the public programme for UP:RISE.
UP:RISE and BOM present We Don’t Settle Lunar Campfire: All this CCTV, but do you even see me?
Don’t Settle Lunar Campfires provide a safe space for young people of colour to talk about their experiences. This event creates a discussion space with food, performances, and networking.
UP:RISE Community Radio with New Style Radio
A series of group discussions and interviews with the public culminating in this live radio talk with artist Baff Akoto. Facilitated by Emma Mendes with Salma Akhtar / Reuben Edwards / Kaytone Mendez / Sam Darley.
UPRISE TV
UP:RISE TV is a 19 hour “pirate television” piece by artist Baff Akoto. The work serves as a critical commentary on the inherently reductive, simplifying and voyeuristic instincts of broadcast news and the limitations of the medium when faced with the complex, societal causes of acute civil dissent and unrest.
Extract from UP:RISE TV – a 19 hour “pirate television” piece by artist Baff Akoto exhibited in August 2021. The work serves as a critical commentary on the inherently reductive, simplifying and voyeuristic instincts of broadcast news and the limitations of the medium when faced with the complex, societal causes of acute civil dissent and unrest.
Partners:
Arts Council England / GAP Clothing Europe / Recurring Dreams Ltd / Blulilli Projects / Bernie Grant Arts Centre / BOM / The Blue Coat / FACT/ ICF / We Don’t Settle (FKA: Beat Freaks), Go Off Sis Podcast / New Style Radio
Blulilli Projects 