Kimani Beckford – Jus Becos Mi Black (2016) (still from video)
Here is another feature on the artists and works in the upcoming Digital exhibition, opening date Sunday, April 24:
Bio
Kimani Beckford was born in St. Catherine, Jamaica, 1988. He holds a 2011 BFA in painting from the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts. Beckford has been exhibiting regularly from as early as 2005 when he was a regular participant of the National Visual Arts Competition and Exhibition, put on annually by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission. In 2010, he became the first Jamaican to participate in the UNESCO Art Camp, held in Andorra, Spain. More recently, he has participated in the National Gallery of Jamaica’s 2012 and 2014 Biennial exhibitions, as well as the 2015 Mercosul Biennial held in Brazil. His awards include the Prime Minister’s National Youth Award for excellence in Arts and Culture in Jamaica (2011) and the Dawn Scott Memorial Award (2014). He lives and works in Jamaica.
Kimani Beckford – Jus Becos Mi Black (2016) (still from video)
About the Work
“This video installation explores blackness as self-portrait. It represents each and every one who has had similar experiences of disrespect as a result of their race. There are many common racist expressions that verbally discriminate against ‘blackness.’ Some of these are: ‘nothing black is good,’ ‘Black represents ugly and evil’, among several others.”
“I am using this video installation as a medium to challenge those degrading expressions that stigmatize the Black presence with inferiority. In the video, the song ‘Strange Fruit’ is placed in dialogue with ‘Jus Becos Mi Black’ to create an open ground to share personal experiences. Experiences that are similar to those of the past, where persons may be disgraced because of their race. This video installation also gives invitation to the audience; an invitation to a moment that is presented.”
Kimani Beckford – Jus Becos Mi Black (2016) (still from video)
Jus Becos Mi Black (2016), Video installation with furniture, duration of video: 03.23 mins
Credit: Lionel Thompson and Paul Wilson
