Raimi Gbadamosi biography
Raimi Gbadamosi is an artist and writer. He received his Doctorate in Fine
Art from the Slade School of Fine Art in 2001, where he is now the current
Honorary Research Fellow and is a member of the Interdisciplinary Research
Group of the University of Leon, Spain. He was the recipient of the 1994
Benjamin Boothroyd Prize, and was commended by the Association of Art Historians
in 1995.
Gbadamosi has published numbers of journal, online, and catalogue essays
since 1996, including 'Am I Black Enough?' in Third Text, 'Death
is Performance Art Too' at Spike Online, Violent Bodies for
Faculty UK Conference of SOAS, University of London, and 'And the Band
Played On' at Arts Professional. He has written for by this,
always both faces and in-print. His Doctoral thesis
'The use of Black People in British Advertising, or A Man Should Be
judged By the Colour Of His Shirt' continues his concerns with social
politics and cultural differences in British society. His chapter in a book
on Artists and the African Diaspora will be published in 2005.
He has exhibited nationally and internationally, solo shows including ©R.
Gbadamosi !995 at Henry Moore Institute, Leeds(2000), I am a Man and an
Artist at Leon, Spain (2003) and Shrine at Market Gallery, Glasgow (2005).
His works range across many media and practices, including craft, music,
web media, writing and audience participation. His work draws attention
by allowing open debates, instead of simply representing concerns. He challenges
entrenched perceptions defined by the viewer's personal specific social,
cultural and political context.
Language plays a central part in his work. His most recent publication,
four word, was published in conjunction with the Slade Press in
March 2004. The book's 2002 Press Release reads: 'Categorisation, while
simplifying access to data, ultimately causes alienation because the coding
information becomes the primary form of address. [. . .] The book's letter
form demonstrates the arbitrary nature of language and representation, and
by restricting itself to four letters highlights the obscene.'
He is author of many books including: incredulous; ordinary
people; extraordinary people; and contents. With
the Galerie Tangente, Liechtenstein, he published Drink Horizontal
and Drink Vertical. The Dreamers' Perambulator was published
with Spacex Gallery in 2002.
Apart from being an artist and writer, Raimi curated the exhibition When in Rome in Lewisham Art House, London (2002), and co-curated Homelands at Spacex, Exeter (2004). A site-specific exhibition, it investigates the notion of Middle England, a unique social-cultural phenomenon defined by the nature of inclusiveness and exclusiveness within English society. The exhibition played a central role in the recent cultural diversity debates, and later featured in decibel, Arts Council England's diversity initiative.
Raimi's work investigates the complexity of social and cultural politics,
often challenging our view on ethnicity, race and culture. He engages seriously
with current 'cultural diversity' issues, constantly addressing them in
different ways through his diverse practice and use of media. His
work is skilfully executed while maintaining a sense of humour. He is aware
of the use of labelling and the power of language, choosing to address issues
in a playful way, cleverly questioning the viewer's own perception.
Raimi Gbadamosi likes mango trees.
Zoe Li
decibel Officer, Arts Council England, South West