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Build Hollywood

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Build Hollywood

Build Hollywood

Your Space Or Mine

Ronan Mckenzie

The London-based photographer speaks to us about curation, her creative space HOME and her collaboration with Your Space Or Mine.

From the start of her career to now, Ronan Mckenzie has quickly established herself as one of London’s most authentic and multifaceted creatives. Born and raised in Walthamstow, East London, her rise to success saw Mckenzie progress from a beaming young artist participating in an art foundation and internship at I-D magazine to a highly skilled creative with a plethora of titles under her job description.

Developing on her background in styling, lockdown saw Mckenzie delve into the design world after a newfound interest in sewing pushed her to launch her own brand Selasi. But her versatility did not stop there, last year also saw Mckenzie launch HOME – a black-owned multifunctional creative space in North London that features an art gallery, community events space and creative workspace for members of the community to enjoy. “HOME responds directly to the personal and communal need for a more honest and representative space, that cares deeply for the artists we present and the community of people that we welcome into our space,” she told us, speaking on what pushed her to launch the project.

At current, HOME is holding an exhibition called ‘Amour’, which celebrates the work and artistry of eleven different Black British designers. Future exhibitions include Belgian and Congolese artist Bahati Simoens’ solo exhibition ‘Dear Gratitude’, which opens in January. As a self-initiated project, members of the public can play a part in ensuring HOME can continue to provide artists of colour with the space and support they need by becoming a supporter or a friend of the organisation.

Speaking on her pathway to curation, Mckenzie explained to us “I’ve always been someone excited to champion others alongside myself and as my path has naturally taken me in a collaborative direction,” she said. Now, as part of BUILDHOLLYWOOD’s ongoing art project, Your Space Or Mine, Mckenzie has selected artists based in the United Kingdom to feature on billboards across the country. Starting in London, the monthly project will then travel through the UK – stopping off Bristol in November, Birmingham in December and Sheffield in January. Each city’s street exhibition will feature local artists selected by Mckenzie.

Entitled ‘Celebrating Joy’, the project embodies all notions of Black joy and the many ways it can be interpreted through art and photography. For the London instalment of the project, Mckenzie has selected a talent group of twelve artists who have responded to the theme in their own ways. Hailing from a wide variety of backgrounds, the artists were discovered in numerous ways including open calls for residences and grants as well as artists from the HOME community.

Spread out over billboards in three ends of the capital, pieces of work apart of the project include stunning monochromatic portraits by photographer Theo Gould, who uses his background in Philosophy as inspiration for his work. Alongside Gould, other billboards in South London feature an acrylic painting named ‘Comfortable Existence ‘opulence IV’’ by Chelsea School of Art alumnus Sandra Daniel and a piece by Brixton-based artist Sola Olulode which highlights the joy found in Black sisterhood.

Across the capital, residents of North London will see work by photographers Rashidi Noah, Memunatu Barrie and Justin Akomiah. Other pieces include images of flags created by Fanto Asafo Flags which celebrate and honour the history of the Fante people of Ghana.

Elsewhere in East London, fashion and portrait photographer Christina Ebenezar of East London alongside photographer Naomi Williams, whose image comes from her ‘Shared Spaces’ series which explores the intimacy of communal environments. Other artists selected include Josephine Chime, Sondliwe and Olivia Twist.

We caught up with Ronan ahead of the launch of her Your Space Or Mine takeover.
Read the full interview here

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