Department of Unruly Histories - South London Gallery

A person holds a drum between their legs and are playing it with their hands. — Jordan Djembe. Photo by Meera Shakti Osborne

The Orozco Garden

Department of Unruly histories is an artwork produced by Meera Shakti Osborne. The work consists of a collective sonic and material archive built on post-colonial migration stories in London. To coincide with an exhibition at Cubitt Artists, curated by Mariam Elnozahy, ten audio pieces are installed in sites across London. These ten locations were chosen by the participants based on their intimate connections with certain places and neighbourhoods, or where they felt they wanted their work to be heard.

The audio piece entitled Performance. Personality. A portrait? is installed in the Orozco Garden at the South London Gallery. This work features artist and poet Jordan Minga who uses his own poetry and music to reflect on various aspects of his life growing up in south east London. It includes references to parks, friends, family, neurodivergence, care, the changing city, food and buses.

Department of Unruly Histories is free to visit and open on Saturday and Sunday only, 11am – 6pm until 4 June 2023.

Please note the Orozco Garden is closed Monday – Friday.

ABOUT JORDAN MINGA

Jordan Minga, b. 2001 (he/they) is an artist, poet, tinkerer. Minga grew up Black British African in London. He is from Peckham in south London and is a first generation Ugandan in the UK. Minga’s poetry reflects his lived experience; he was diagnosed with Autism when he was 9 years old and never felt like he fit in; until now. He struggled a lot in his early years and didn’t do well in school but does not let that define him. He wants his creative work to help people define themselves; he is introspective, and that nature goes into all my work.

Minga is youth board member and an advisor to the trustees for London Youth and Crafts Council. Taking on the role of a youth worker at Spotlight, a youth service for Tower Hamlets and the wider area, gave him a greater understanding of what could be done to support the next generation. Minga also studied as part of the first cohort of the London Screen Academy in 2021 and is now studying at Ravensbourne University pursuing a degree in Broadcast Engineering.

ACCESS

The Orozco Garden has various levels and steps. The ground level is fully accessible.
There are accessible toilets.
Seating is available on request, please ask a Gallery Assistant if you would like a seat.
Please contact mail@southlondongallery.org with access requirements and any questions.