Muzi Quawson is fotograaf. Haar karakteristieke, filmische stijl weerspiegelt haar passie voor de Amerikaanse cultuur en subcultuur. Quawson fotografeert echte mensen en gebeurtenissen; ze is echter niet geïnteresseerd in fotografie als middel om maatschappelijke of politieke situaties als zodanig te documenteren. Haar beelden zijn veeleer manifestaties van de Amerikaanse mythe zoals die vanaf de jaren zeventig wordt uitgedragen in films, muziek en literatuur. Haar laatste werk 'Shawmut Circle' is een filmisch portret van regio's in het 'diepe zuiden' die door de cinema niet in kaart zijn gebracht. Quawson heeft een aantal maanden op locatie doorgebracht om het dagelijks leven vast te leggen van pubers en volwassenen die in deze gemarginaliseerde gemeenschap tussen Georgia en Alabama wonen.
Muzi Quawson is a photographer whose characteristic cinematic style reflects her love for American culture and sub-culture. While photographing real people and events Quawson is not interested in photography as a means of documenting social or political realities as such. Rather her images are manifestations of an American myth as transmitted in movies, music and literature since the 1970s. Her latest work 'Shawmut Circle' is a cinematic portrait, which aims to serve as a commentary on the cinematically unmapped areas of the Deep South. Quawson spent months on location, documenting the daily lives of adolescents and adults that reside within this marginalized community between Georgia and Alabama, US.
CURRICULUM VITAE
Education
2004-2006
MA in Fine Art Photography, Royal College of Art, London, GB
1998-2001
BA Hons (First class) Photography, KIAD, Rochester, Kent
1997-1998
Foundation in Art & Design, Middlesex University, London, GB
Residencies
2011-2012
Rijksakademie van beeldende kunsten / Dutch ministry of Education, Culture and Science
2005
School of Visual Arts, New York City (NY), US
Fellowships/Stipends
2011
R.H. Defares, NL
2005
Leverhulme Trust, UK
2001
Metro Student Bursary, London
Awards
2005
Ian Parry Awards, Tom Blau Gallery, London, GB
2001
Guardian Student Awards, London, GB
2001
London Photographic Award, GB
2001
Fuji Awards, London, GB
Selected solo exhibitions
2009
The Old Home, Annet Gelink Gallery, Amsterdam, NL
2008
Pull Back the Shade, Yossi Milo Gallery, New York (NY), US
2006
Pull Back the Shade, Annet Gelink Gallery, Amsterdam, NL
Selected Group Exhibitions
2009
'Within' Portraiture Show, Bloomberg, London, GB
2008
'Pioneer Point', Basis, Frankfurt, DE
2007
Play Yourself, Gimpel Fils Gallery, London, GB
2006
Wandering Star, GANA Art Centre, Seoul, KR
2006
Generation, Photography Degree Show, Royal College of Art, London, GB
2006
New British Art, Tate Triennial, Tate Britain, London, GB, (exh.cat.)
2005
Bloomberg, New Contemporaries, Cornerhouse, Manchester, GB, (exh.cat.)
2005
Interim Show, Guilbenkan Gallery, Royal College of Art, London, GB
2004
Visa Pour L’image, Perpignan, FR
2004
Secret, Royal College of Art, London, GB
2004
US Election 2004, The Olympus Inheritance Exhibition
2003
The World – José Enterprise, Paris Speak 4 Gallery, Tokyo, JP
2003
La crise économique, c'est fantastique, la décadence, c'est la bonne ambiance!, Jousse Entreprise, Paris, FR
2002
L.P.A Retrospective, Gatwick South Terminal, GB
2001
Summer Here Kids, University of Canterbury, Kent, GB
2001
In-Motion, Degree Show, Formerly Hackney Downs Secondary School, London, GB
Festivals/ Screenings
2011
“Cinemandala”, curated by Seamus Harahan is part of ‘The Flat Lake Screening’ in Ireland, also featuring works by Phil Collins and Yael Bartana
Artfairs
2007
Amory Show, New York (NY), US (Annet Gelink Gallery)
2006
Frieze Art Fair, London, GB (Annet Gelink Gallery)
Selected Articles and Reviews
2009
Teder portret van een nurkse eenling, NRC Handelsblad, Amsterdam, NL
2008
Review on show at Yossi Milo Gallery, ArtForum (Summer)
2008
'Agenda: The Image', New York Magazine (3 March)
2008
'Medium Cool', Time Out New York, (27 March-2 April)
2008
'Muzi Quawson: Pull Back the Shade', Aperture (Spring)
2007
'Who’s Hot and Who’s Not: Muzi Quawson', American Photo (November)
2006
'Artist Feature', Hotshoe International (August/September)
2006
'Artist Feature', Art Review (July)
2006
British Vogue (April)
2006
I.D. Magazine London (April)
2006
Hall, Nick: The Independent: Talent Issue, January 2006
Commissions
2010
Photographers Gallery, London: 2012 UK Olympics Games
2009
Bloomberg Space, London: Group Show “Within”
Lectures
2009
UCA, Rochester, Kent, GB
2007
Art Insight/Photo London: Emerging Artist, City Inn Westminster London, GB
2006
UCA, Rochester, Kent, GB
2006
Photo-London: Emerging Artists, The Royal Academy of Arts London, GB
Collections
The Dutch Federal Bank, Amsterdam, NL
Annet Gelink, NL
UBS, London, GB
Private collections within the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the United States of America
Untitled, 2011, film still from 'Shawmut Circle', 16mm projection
