Late at the Library: Drexciyan Realms
A night of electronic music, art and fantasy inspired by the extraordinary vision of Drexciya, whose futuristic sound was entwined with an alternate Black history and mythology.
With Dopplereffekt live and special guests. The event culminates in a live performance by Dopplereffekt who build on a long career of experimentation within the machine-human interface. Sometimes characterised as electro, they create a revelatory experience that is physical as well as neurological; precisely rhythmic and symphonic, deeply emotional as well as uncertain. With visuals by Maria Mendes.
Preceded by an illustrated conversation with Drexciya collaborator-artist Abdul Qadim Haqq and DJ Josey Rebelle.
Over the course of several record releases from 1992 onwards, Detroit duo Drexciya, James Stinson and Gerald Donald, imagined an underwater kingdom populated by children and women who had jumped or been thrown overboard during the transatlantic slave trade. Drexciya envisioned the emergence of a Drexciyan realm in the depths of the Atlantic. Despite Stinson’s sudden death in 2002 the project continues to resonate ever more powerfully, inspiring numerous creative responses by other artists.
This after-hours event at the British Library includes access to the exhibition Fantasy: Realms of Imagination at no extra cost.
A combined ticket can also be booked to include the panel conversation Black To The Future presents Genre Marauders with Irenosen Okojie, Tade Thompson and Chella Ramanan. This runs from 18:30-19:45 in the British Library Theatre ahead of Late at the Library.
The event is also part of Black To The Future, an Afro-Futurist celebration of outstanding Black artists and a space for visionary imaginings to thrive. A festival founded and directed by Irenosen Okojie MBE in collaboration with the Royal Society of Literature and the British Library, with a focus on invigorating dialogues and genres within which Black literature and art is flourishing.
Half price tickets available for British Library Members, students, under 26s and other concession.
This event takes place in the British Library. Please note this is a standing event with only limited seating. Doors open at 19:30, with events on stage from 20:00. Last entry to the exhibition 21:30.
Record stall courtesy of Honest Jon’s.