LONDON.- Workplace is presenting its first solo exhibition by multidisciplinary London-based artist Rosa-Johan Uddoh, which follows her acclaimed institutional debut Practice Makes Perfect at Focal Point Gallery in Southend-on-Sea and Bluecoat in Liverpool (2021), and the recent publication of her homonymous first book. For Star Power Uddoh continues her investigation of Black representation in history and popular culture. Through a series of new collages, an interactive installation and a fifty-five minute long film, the artist discusses what it means to make history and to be excluded from it, and the impact this has on one’s self-esteem and personal development.
The works in Star Power are populated by a multitude of figures that oscillate between being symbolic representations of historical and religious characters and real people with lived experiences. It is at this threshold that Uddoh’s practice sits, as she investigates the problematic relationship between tokenisation of Black people and identity formation.
Rosa-Johan Uddoh (b.1993, Croydon, UK) is an interdisciplinary artist based in London inspired by Black feminist practice and writing.
Uddoh’s solo presentations include: Practice Makes Perfect, Focal Point Gallery (Southend-on-sea, 2021) and Bluecoat (Liverpool, 2021); She is still alive!, Destiny’s (Oslo, 2020), Studies for Impartiality, Jupiter Woods; and Sphinx at the Crystal Palace, Black Tower Projects (both London, 2019). Group shows include: Brand New Heavies, Pioneer Works (New York, 2021); Learning by Doing, 68 Institute (Copenhagen, 2019); New Contemporaries (London & Liverpool 2018); and Black Blossoms, The Royal Standard (Liverpool, 2017). Recently she has screened work at East London Cable’s TV Dinners E03 at Tate Modern, 2019. She has been shortlisted for the Jarman Award 2022 for her film making practice and she was a finalist for Arts Foundation Futures Awards 2021. Uddoh was the Liverpool Biennial and John Moores University Fellow 2018-2019; the Stuart Hall Library Resident for 2020; and previously a Sarabande: Lee Alexander Mc Queen Scholar.
