Second Site
Second Site is a new, site specific installation and collaborative performance work re-imagining the female, African and Caribbean diasporic history which haunts the Mercantile era of architecture in Scotland. Working with a de-colonial methodology and a desire to make invisible histories visible, Second Site explores the historical presence and hidden legacies of Guyanese women in Scotland in the 18th and 19th century.
The performance and installation has been developed from conversations and workshops with members of Yon Afro Collective – A collective of black women based in Scotland; and draws from the research of Scottish historian, David Alston; the poetry of Martin Carter and the music of Nina Simone. Techniques which have been utilised in the performances include N’Gomku – a diasporic dance technique developed by Ana Beatriz Ameida – as well as sensory and somatic movement techniques drawing from a wide constellation of practices, propositions, exercises, perspectives and people.
Second Site is part of the ‘Of Lovely Tyrants and Invisible Women’ programme, funded by Creative Scotland with additional funding provided by Heritage Lottery Fund. The development of this work was kindly supported by A-N artist bursaries, Glasgow Visual Art and Craft Awards, National Theatre of Scotland, Sekai Machache, Titana Muthui, Libby Odai, Adebusola Ramsay, Natasha Ruwona, Naomi Shoba Nabu White and Sabrina Henry.