BCN Residency Programme Reading LIst 3 April 2024

‘Piece Work’ by Amarjit Nar

“This book is a compilation of heartfelt stories by South Asian women, and poems written in response to them, with the thread of sewing running through it.  I was in the early stages of the residency and still figuring out what I wanted to do and I had about  7 or 8 different ideas I was considering, one of which was to work with textiles. Then I saw the book in the window of Waterstones in Wolverhampton and it really helped get the ball rolling. Textile is such a rich and broad topic in South Asian history and can be overwhelming. This book specifically shares stories of women who migrated to the Black Country / Birmingham, very similar to my family. It allowed me to situate myself and have a focus.”

‘The Wretched of the Earth’ by Franz Fanon

“In Wretched, Fanon delves into the specifics of decolonisation and the psyche of the colonised individual. I have been meaning to read this book for years but put it off because I knew it would be heavy but it’s one of the most important books in critical race theory and it shows. It’s brilliant!  My work centres around being British-Pakistani and that in itself requires the consideration between the colonised and coloniser. I was born and raised in the country that colonised mine and so there is a certain duality. Fanon has got this down and has really helped me think about that relationship further.”

Sarah Byrne

‘Why Women Grow’ by Alice Vincent

“Alice Vincent is a writer I’ve followed for a long time. She writes with a tender and comforting voice which balances observation, reflection, memoir and research. I felt all the excitement for the release of Why Women Grow last year, having absorbed all the online content that shared its creation. But when launched, I bought the book as a gift for a friend who I thought would love it, before experiencing it myself. With my thoughts from this residency pinging between the significance of friendships, gifts and the emergence of love and connection in different ways, I thought it would be a fitting time to finally treat myself and give attention to the book I’ve been a premature fan of. Why Women Grow uses language I admire to explore themes parallel to my practice: storytelling, histories, nurturing and growth.”

‘Notes on Grief’ by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

“I had some budget left in the research fund for another small book and I selected Notes on Grief. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie uses language to explore a feeling there is no language for. With my practice so affected and driven by my own response to the loss of my dad, I was drawn to her written tribute: a difficult love letter to her father who she lost in the pandemic.”

Dale Hipkiss

‘The Dispossessed: An Ambiguous Utopia’ by Ursula Le Guin

“The book wrestles with the difficulties and imperfections of an Anarchist utopia and the world’s ongoing cultural / scientific exchange with a Capitalist Patriarchy. I love this book; it reflects to me that people working towards a fair society probably don’t have all the answers and that’s fine, and definitely not a reason to not question the status quo.”

Shannel James

‘The Artist’s Way’ by Julia Cameron 

“During my induction into the studio space, Jess from Multistory recommended this book to me. I was keen to read it due to the 12-week programme in the book which Is supposed to regain or help you find your own creative identity. Although in the last year, I have honed in on my creative identity to some degree, I believe I still have some way to go and I’m hoping this book will really support that journey! 

My artistic journey starts with me and therefore I believe it’s essential to research myself. Who am I? What is my creative identity? Most importantly, what is my ‘why’? Once I have grasped this, it will naturally show up in the pieces of work I will create outside of the explorative period I am currently in!”

Quennie Lim

‘Privatise the Mandem’ by Nabil Al Kinani 

“I chose this resource in particular because I wanted to know more about ownership in the sense of infrastructure and land. Whilst I was doing my research to look into the community archives about the Filipino community, I was left with the answer there’s none to be found by those who hold the access key to the archive. I began to think about the blueprint that was manifesting in my mind. That’s when I turned to Privatise the Mandem. What if community had an archive built that runs on this flow of care for their history and their visibility? Not just in terms of their past but also their presen(t)ce – an active responsibility held to reach and build relationaly with each other. Serving all people within it, especially reaching us, the Immigrants.”