Carmen McNally's Art

What does counterculture mean to me? I had never heard the word Counterculture before this brief, so I asked some friends and family if they knew what it was, and they all said no. After some research I now understand what counterculture means. As a black woman, I sometimes feel pressured to do something about race. However, it is not a subject I wish to delve into. I tend to stay clear of politics but now doing the research I understand how connected they are. I see counterculture as a resistance. Creating a mind map helped me to look at all the subjects under the counterculture umbrella. The first idea was to create something to do with a sensitive subject which is my uncle who was with my nan for forty years and came to this country in his early twenties. He has worked and paid his taxes and is now retired. When my nan passed away back in 2012 they tried to send him back to Liberia his birthplace which he had not been back to in over 40 years. This was a troubling time for my mum an

 

Donald Rodney Exhibition at Nottingham Contemporary We visited Nottingham Contemporary today for an exhibition of the late Donald Rodney: Visceral Canker. Rodney’s work was spread over all rooms on the ground floor showcasing nearly all surviving artwork including sketchbooks, photographs and documents that addressed topics of racial identity, prejudice, masculinity, chronic illness and Britain's colonial past. I first entered the room showcasing his work ‘Flesh of My Flesh’ 1996. I didn’t quite know what I was looking at, at first. After reading about the photograph, I realised it was a large scar from his most recent hip operation. I found the message behind this piece to be really powerful. Reading that the scar was evidence of malpractice: over-stitching by a reckless surgeon who apparently felt that Black skin required more work since it was “tougher” than white skin. On either side of the scar are electronic microscopic photos of a knot of human hairs, one belonging to Rodn

 After the End of History: British Working Class Photography 1989 - 2024 Exhibition We visited the Bonnington gallery today where they exhibited the work of 26 artists spanning over 35 years and curated by Johny Pitts. The exhibition looks at the lives of the working class from their own perspective rather than from an outsider who hasn't experienced this type of life.   When I first walked into the gallery, it was quite bright with spotlights from the ceiling. The walls were painted black followed by a black and white checkered floor and a yellow display case that was made to look like a DJ booth.  It felt like going back in time walking into a club scene back in the 90's before the party started. There was also a boom box playing Reggae, Old skool Garage and other genres from the 90's that were recorded by Johny Pitts big sister Chantal Pitts from a pirate radio in Sheffield. These were originally on cassette tape that Pitts digitalised. I was born in 1981 and spent the l