Songs From a Forgotten Past

SONGS FROM A FORGOTTEN PAST is an artist film exhibition programme curated by Tendai John Mutambu for the British Council and LUX, which explores themes of marginality, community, storytelling, world-building and reframing histories.

The SONGS FROM A FORGOTTEN PAST programme contains a curated compilation of three works, alongside associated installations. The flexible nature of the programme means that collaborating curators choose some or all of the works for their exhibition and can introduce other artworks as they wish.

‘How can we see the world from the perspective of the marginalised and stand by them in solidarity? Can marginalisation be undermined by reframing its representations? The works in SONGS FROM A FORGOTTEN PAST move beyond idealisation and romanticisation. Instead, they point towards the potential to write new narratives that critically recast old images, perspectives and tools of analysis. These works remind us that amongst the ruins of failed historical projects lies the potential for a vision of the future.’ – Tendai John Mutambu, curator

Artworks exhibited:

Ayo Akingbade, Street 66, 2018, 13 minutes (LUX)
John Akomfrah, The Silence, 2014, 17 minutes (British Council)
Duncan Campbell, Arbeit, 2011, 39 minutes (LUX)
Luke Fowler, Depositions, 2014, 24 minutes, 32 seconds (LUX)
Susan Hiller, The Last Silent Movie, 2007, 20 minutes, 41 seconds (British Council)
Samson Kambalu, I Take My Place in History, 28 seconds, I Take the Stairs to 1952, 56 seconds, Cathedral, 28 seconds, Superfly, 36 seconds, 2016 (British Council)
Rehana Zaman, I, I, I, I and I, 2013, 14 minutes, 25 seconds (LUX)