Grace Ndiritu will be joined in an online conversation by Scott Elliott, curator of the live program at Bergen Kunsthall on the occasion of this year’s Bergen Art Book Fair, discussing Ndiritu’s fashion and economics-focused project, COVERSLUT©.
This year’s edition of the art book fair takes the form of an ongoing series of talks, book presentations, events with an extended online presence and a digital marketplace. BABF 8 takes place from November 2020 through to May 2021.
COVERSLUT© is a fashion and economic research project from Grace Ndiritu. It focuses on dealing with issues of race, gender and class politics. It incorporates Capitalist, Pay What You Can and Ethical/Environmental strategies into its economic framework. The concept for COVERSLUT© is inspired by Ndiritu’s book on youth culture Dissent Without Modification. COVERSLUT© is also a textile apron (cover) used to hide a dirty clothes worn by kitchen maids (sluts i.e. dirty women) in 17th century English society. But with its double entendre (meaning), artist Grace Ndiritu couldn’t resist making a tongue-in-cheek statement, about how big brands and advertising are the corporate sluts of our time. Big brands co-opt youth culture and sell it back to the young en masse, stamped with their branding and logo signs.
Supported in 2019 by Manoeuvre artists residency program in Gent, Belgium.
As part of our collaboration with Bergen Art Book Fair, Bergen Kunsthall is publishing Grace Ndiritu’s collection of interviews, ‘Dissent Without Modification’ as a book which will be released in January 2021.
This series of events with Grace Ndiritu is part of the Speculative Histories program, which investigates historical and contemporary practices of feminist organising, intersectional anti-racist and queer perspectives, suggesting alternatives for institutional practices based on a re-shifted lens on the past. Throughout autumn and winter, we present talks, screenings, texts and performances with interdisciplinary connections to dance, literature and fashion.