Raimi Gbadamosi
is an artist, writer and curator. He received his Doctorate in Fine Art from the Slade School of Fine Art, where he is currently a Research Fellow. He is a member of the Interdisciplinary Research Group on 'Afroeuropeans', University of Leon, Spain, and is on the editorial panel of DIALOGUE: Axis' online journal. He received the 1994 Benjamin Boothroyd Prize, and a commendation from the Association of Art Historians in 1995.Gbadamosi has written many essays, including 'Am I Black Enough?'; Third Text, 'Death is Performance Art Too'; Spiked Online, and 'And the Band Played On'; Arts Professional. Book chapters in by this, always both faces and in-print. His Doctoral thesis 'The use of Black People in British Advertising, or A Man Should Be judged By the Colour Of His Shirt' explored concerns with social politics and cultural differences in British society. His book chapter on 'Artists and the African Diaspora' will be published in 2006.
Books include: incredulous; ordinary people; extraordinary people; contents; Drink Horizontal; Drink Vertical; The Dreamers' Perambulator; and four word.
He has exhibited nationally and internationally, solo shows including ©R. Gbadamosi !995 at Henry Moore Institute, Leeds (2000), I am a Man and an Artist at Leon, Spain (2003) and SHRINE at Market Gallery, Glasgow (2005) and 600/60/6/6 (2005), London. He works across many media and practices, including craft, music, web media, writing and audience participation. His work draws attention by allowing open debates, instead of simply representing concerns defined by the viewer's personal specific social, cultural and political preconceptions.
His work investigates the complexity of social and cultural politics, challenging views on ethnicity, race and culture. His work is skilfully executed while maintaining a sense of humour. Aware of the labelling power of language, he chooses to address issues obliquely.
Gbadamosi curated When in Rome, Lewisham Art House, London (2002), WIR II 2004 (Spacex, Exeter); WIR III 2004 (Castlefield, Manchester) WIR IV 2005 (mac, Birmingham) and WIR V 2005 (TFAC, Portsmouth) Gbadamosi co-curated Homelands at Spacex, Exeter (2004): which investigated the notion of Middle England, The exhibition later featured in decibel, Arts Council England's diversity initiative. He curated Mixed Belongings: Eight Contemporary Makers with the Craft Council in 2005, (part of Africa 05) which is now touring nationally to Bilston Crafts Gallery, Wolverhampton; Castle Museum, Nottingham; and then on to Hawick Museum, Scottish Borders. He is currently working on Cordial with Canterbury County Council and the Arts Council of England.
