“The paradox of education is precisely this – that as one begins to become conscious one begins to examine the society in which he is being educated.”
James Baldwin
What can be taught in 3 days? Definitely not the entire history of art with all its currents, neither all the philosophical, theological or anthropological volumes that have been written by the humanity in the attempt to understand who we are. But one thing that can be taught in 3 days is to question. To question the terms, the notions, the norms. To question the information and the source of information. To question the formulas, the stereotypes, the conventions. In other words, to exercise critical thinking. And this is exactly what we have been trying to do with AtWork for 4 years: to provide an alternative way of knowledge acquisition. To provide the students with the “toolbox”, which would allow them to process and elaborate information in a different, critical manner. Because the person who is able to think critically is someone who is one step closer to freedom, and as Simon Njami put it “someone who is free is more likely to transform their society”.
With AtWork we set out with an ambitious goal: to contribute to building a new generation of thinkers. The journey is long and each chapter of the way is informing and enriching the new one. We started in Dakar in 2012 and after Abidjan (2014) and Kampala (2015), we have just completed Cairo in December 2015. AtWork Cairo titled Something Else, after the Cairo Biennale Off that was taking place at the same time, was yet another unique experience. In the current socio-political context of Egypt, where the freedom of expression is being silenced on a daily basis, where censorship rules and where the society wants you to conform, AtWork provided a space where, even if only for the duration of the workshop, the students could be someone else and talk about something else. “Giving me unlimited freedom was AtWork’s strength”, commented Reem Hamed, one of the workshop participants, who is echoed by Heba Amin, the art professor who facilitated the workshop: “Therein lies the power of projects like AtWork which pinpoint the crux of the problem; they quite simply provide a reflective space for critical thinking and experimentation, one that is crucial for those societies which are increasingly being silenced.”
The results of this process are 16 art pieces: Moleskine notebooks personalized by each participant as their reflection on Something Else and their attempts to free their minds. The notebooks will be showcased at Darb1718 artistic center in Cairo during the exhibition co-curated by the students themselves, opening on March 6th.
And as the Cairo Chapter is reaching its final stage we are heading towards a new AtWork chapter, this time in Italy and in partnership with Fondazione Fotografia Modena. Another 3 days, March 4-6th, that will set the minds of 25 photography and curator master’s students in motion under the provocative guidance of Simon Njami. The theme this time is “Heterochrony”, or breaking the real time continuum, introducing the multiple space- time dimension. AtWork Modena Chapter 05 will allow the students to look at their artistic practice with a different point of view, detaching it from a particular place or time and putting it into a much larger cultural and critical context. To complete the experience and continue the discussion Simon Njami will also curate the exhibition, which will open on the last day of the workshop, March 6th, at Fondazione Fotografia Modena and will feature the winner of the International Prize for Photography 2016.
New chapters, new discussions, new inspirations. AtWork progresses and continues its march through the globe, equipping its ever-growing community of thinkers with the most powerful and dangerous weapon: knowledge. Stay with us, stay informed, this is just the beginning.
Claude Bunny Massassa is a contemporary artist from Gabon. She created Bunny Studio in 2016, a start-up dedicated to photography production, which became DWABI Studio in 2021. As an artist, she has represented Gabon in many international exhibitions in Senegal, Uganda, France, the United States, and Italy. In her art, she denounces social stigmas around issues of identity and mental health, and explores themes of traditions and myths.
Executive Director Kimberly Aceves- Iñiguez has been passionately committed for over 20 years to social justice organizing and advocacy efforts that bring voice and power to youth, LGBTQ people, people of color, and working-class communities in the Bay Area. Before coming on as the Executive Director for RYSE, Kimberly served as the Executive Director for Youth Together, the founding organization of the RYSE Center.
Kanwarpal Dhaliwal is one of the co-founders of RYSE and currently acts as the Associate Director. She supports and guides the implementation and integration of healing-centered practices, grounded in racial justice and liberation, and also develops, promotes, and advocates for policies, investments, practices, and research that enliven healing, justice, and liberation. Kanwarpal believes that the purpose of her work and life is to contribute to movements, communities, and legacies of liberation that honor the ancestors who fought for her existence and survival, and to forge a world that is just and gentle for future generations.
Sagal Ali is the founder and executive director of SAF. After a few years in her career in heritage protection in the cultural sector, she decided to develop the initiative to directly support young creatives in Somalia by launching her own foundation. She hopes to bridge the social gaps and inequalities women face in Somalia, both in society and in the arts scene.
Co-founders Catherine Dunga and Marleen Palmaers created Kitambo to bridge the gap between the African diaspora in Colombia and the narratives from the continent. From Kinshasa and Antwerp respectively, they work to connect African artists from the continent and their peers from the Colombian diaspora.
Martha Kazungu is a curator, art Historian and Founder of Njabala Foundation, an organization that curates periodic exhibitions and organizes a public program of activities to create a safe space for female artists to thrive and blossom.
Alicia Hansen is a photographer and teacher from New York. She founded NYC SALT in 2008 and, beyond teaching valuable creative skills to her students, has developed a long-term support system to uplift them through school and into their early artistic careers.
