WHAT IF WE GATHERED AROUND JOY?

Presented by Soul Alphabet and City of Fremantle as part of 10 Nights in Port, Joy persists invites you into the worldmaking practices of multidisciplinary local, national and international artists as they honour African American Scholar, Ashon T. Crawley and specifically his question:

“But what if there were a gathering around abundance, pleasure, around joy?”

The 10-day program explores joy, not as a response or in reflection, but in action through visual arts, workshops, film, experimental music and discussion.

Solo exhibition artist: Jane Inyang

Jane Inyang is a Nigerian artist raised in Namibia, Botswana and so called-Australia. Having worked across Boorloo, Ngunnawal, and Gadigal Country, Inyang's artistic journey has been marked by a deep exploration of identity, memory, and relationship to place.

With a practice spanning photography, video, and music, Inyang blends the qualities of these mediums to create emotionally dynamic works. Her practice explores themes of disconnection and transformation, drawing on personal and collective histories to create works that resonate on to an Afro-Australian upbringing. With a keen ability to capture meaningful narratives and moments, Inyang invites viewers to reflect on their own experiences of belonging and connection, making her work both intimate and expansive.

Producer: Soul Alphabet

Soul Alphabet is an ecosystem that supports our Bla(c)k and brown community through art, music and other creative work. This ecosystem was birthed from the ideas of artists, organisers, students - everyday people - and we hope that it continues to resurface in that same spirit.

Curator: Bahar Sayed

Bahar Sayed is a curator and writer currently based on Gadigal Country. She is interested in faith-based and cultural traditions within contemporary artistic practices. Her work has been featured with Art Gallery of Western Australia, UnMagazine, Fremantle Arts Centre, Runway Magazine, Running Dog, West Space Gallery, and Linden New Arts, amongst others

Curatorial assistant: Persephone Abshir

Persephone Abshir is a Boorloo based black queer creative, with focuses on writing and curating. In their words “I enjoy bridging the divide between art and its audience by way of inclusion and consideration”. Having spent most her life in Boorloo, she finds a strong sense of community is what drives her art and needs to express it. Persephone is taking part in the joy persists professional development as the curatorial assistant.