June 6 - 16
OUTPUT is happy to welcome Liverpool artist Amber Akaunu into the gallery to exhibit her installation ’39,’ which consists of a series of 39 videos each inspired and informed by a Hip Hop lyric. This body of work was first shown in the artist’s degree show at Hope University in 2018, and here it is re-presented on a bigger scale. The installation brings together videos, photography, lyrics in text, canvases and spray paint.
When Akaunu created ’39’ in 2018, it had been 39 years since The Sugarhill Gang released ‘Rapper’s Delight’ which is believed to be the first Hip Hop song. The artist feels that the genre is unfairly labelled aggressive, violent and boisterous, when in fact it is a source of inspiration for people and especially Black people. It has encouraged Black men in particular to express themselves, to be creative and open up about their thoughts and fears such as Biggie’s song ‘suicidal thoughts,’ Kendrick Lamar’s discussion of depression in ‘u’ or Tyler the Creator on his sexuality in ‘Garden Shed.’
Akaunu is also a co-founder of ROOTed Zine.
Please find the full press release here.
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/ OUTPUT is part of Invisible Wind Factory