“Voice is everything. Without a voice we can’t express who we are. My voice comes out in my creativity.”

In this week’s episode of The Art of Oppression we hear from multi-award-winning actor, writer, director and producer Alex Kayode-Kay who talks about his latest film The Ballad of Olive Morris. The short tells of an instance in the life of Black activist Olive Morris and it is in this moment that Kayode-Kay gives us a sense of the person Olive was and the motivation behind her activism. 

Also featuring Courtney Pine and supported by award-winning writer Alex Wheatle, Kayode-Kay has given voice to a little-known activist who left a lasting legacy. 

Alex also speaks about his successful and unconventional approach to raising funds for his film after not receiving funding support from traditional funders and of his future plans. 

“We have the right to express views, to campaign and to use our voices just like everybody else.” 

This  is the final of our three-part conversation with multi-award-winning activist, artist and trade unionist Zita Holbourne. Zita talks about the importance of voice and of providing a platform that enables others to be heard when they are unable to speak for themselves. 

Zita also speaks about her political inspiration, the importance of not being silenced and her creative ambition for the future. 

In the second of our three-part conversation with award winning multi-disciplinary artist, activist and trade unionist Zita Holbourne, we hear how she is unapologetic with her art when ‘Black artists and women are pigeon-holed or labelled...' 

Zita speaks about her art as a means of healing and of documenting her work. We also receive insight into Zita the artist as she explains the interconnectedness of her art and activism.

"...We shouldn't be hidden away or be marginalised."

In the first of a three-part conversation with award winning artist, activist and trade unionist Zita Holbourne, we find out about her journey into activism, how it all began, what drives her, and what continues to motivate her actions today.

What would it take for you to take to the streets in protest? In this episode Zita suggests that activism is not just about marches and protests, that it has many different forms and can still be effective.

'I'm in it for the long run.' Hetain Patel

In our final The Art of Oppression conversation with award winning artist Hetain Patel, he talks about working with obsessions, what keeps him up at nights and the relevance of audience in his work.

Hetain also reflects on  the artists' role with regards  social commentary and social legacy and the importance of art engaging with contemporary culture.

In our latest The Art of Oppression episode, award winning artists Hetain Patel shares his inner anxiety of not being understood, and so the importance of his art in enabling him to express his ideas and thoughts.

Hetain also offers  insight into his works including his Ted Talk Who Am I? Think Again, Don't Look at the Finger,  and Trinity and explains his reason for declining a British empire medal. 

Award-winning artist Hetain Patel, creator of The Jump  (2015), Don't look at the Finger (2017) and Trinity (2021) amongst others works, speaks about his personal experiences, how his art articulates those experiences, creating bridges and connections and why it is important for him to create what we don't currently see on screen.

In this week’s episode Patricia Francis talks about the power of the voice, where ‘voice’ is the aural and physical representation of the artists and their activism. 

Patricia also introduces us to female directors whose poetic works have enabled expression, facilitated meaning and understanding and in so doing provide a platform from which other voices can be heard. 

The Art of Oppression:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SSpqUye434
Website: https://www.patriciafrancis.net

The Art of Oppression was funded by Arts Council England.

In this week’s episode Patricia Francis gives insight into her motivation as a filmmaker and the writing and thinking that has influenced the space, pace and quite that now informs her work as a director and her approach to working with and filming her contributors.

The Art of Oppression:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SSpqUye434
Website: https://www.patriciafrancis.net

The Art of Oppression was funded by Arts Council England .

In this episode Patricia Francis introduces her film The Art of Oppression a film about three female artists who are as diverse as the art they make, and who share the filmic space to talk about the issues they face as women and as artists. In this podcast Patricia takes us back in time to 70’s and 80’s Britain in order to remind us of the similarities we share despite our perceived differences.

The Art of Oppression:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SSpqUye434
Website: https://www.patriciafrancis.net

The Art of Oppression was funded by Arts Council England