Grenfell artist Khadija Saye's artworks on display in outdoor Notting Hill exhibition
An outdoor display of works by a talented artist who lost her life in the Grenfell Tower fire opened today in Notting Hill.
Breath is Invisible is a three-month public art project which includes works by Khadija Saye, who died in the blaze in June 2017.
Nine large-scale prints of the British-Gambian artist’s most celebrated works are being shown across the outside façade of 236 Westbourne Grove.
Before her death, Ms Saye said of the works, which exploring the migration of traditional Gambian spiritual practices: “The series was created from a personal need for spiritual grounding after experiencing trauma. The search for what gives meaning to our lives and what we hold onto in times of despair and life changing challenges.”
Ms Saye’s work is the first of three exhibitions to run at the space, all of which aim to explore social inequality and injustice.
Founded by Eiesha Bharti Pasricha and curated by Sigrid Kirk, the project was launched today by David Lammy, MP for Tottenham and Shadow Secretary of State for Justice, who knew Ms Saye. The project’s community partners include Amplify Studios and the Harrow Club.
Today will also see the launch of The Khadija Saye IntoArts Programme. Founded by artist Nicola Green, who is the wife of Lammy, and IntoUniversity, which helps disadvantaged young people get in to higher education, the fund aims to provide opportunities for young people from BAME and disadvantaged communities across the UK.
Green, who was a mentor for Saye, said the programme would be a “fitting way” to honour the “extraordinary” talent of the west Londoner.
She said: “Khadija was an emerging artist when I met her and she had achieved extraordinary things in her short career. But she struggled to confirm her passion - art - in to a career at the beginning. She was a member of an IntoUniversity group near to her home and she was a passionate campaigner on helping others learn about careers in the arts and get in to the creative arts. This is a fitting tribute to her.”
