Exhibition Details

artspace-aotearoa.nz

Question time: A lecture by Tavia Nyong’o
What is a queer Ancestor? Lessons from Audre Lorde and James Baldwin

Hear Creative New Zealand Te Manu Ka Tau international guest Tavia Nyong’o introduce his curatorial work through the lens of the Artspace Aotearoa 2024 annual question “do I need territory?” Tavia will consider the territory of creative inheritance and relationship.

This lecture explores the idea of queer ancestry and the prospects of being a “good ancestor.” It reflects upon the process of memorialising the dead and the risks of secular sainthood. The lecture discusses re-staging a famous encounter between Audre Lorde and James Baldwin, and suggests that ancestor reverence might obscure the productive aspects of conflict in shaping queer history.

This kaupapa is presented in association with Creative New Zealand and the Office for Contemporary Art Aotearoa and is further kindly supported by My Art, Lenore West and Nim Flora Chan.

The lecture will be followed by a Q&A.

Booking is encouraged but not essential. RSVP on this link



WHAT TO EXPECT

This event will be held in the Kit, which can be accessed by the main gallery entrance or alternatively by our car park on 8 East St for assisted access.
This event is free.
This location is accessible with assistance.
This event will be seated and microphones will be used.
Light refreshments will be provided.



BIOGRAPHY


Tavia Nyong’o is the William Lampson Professor of American Studies at Yale. His books include The Amalgamation Waltz: Race, Performance, and the Ruses of Memory (University of Minnesota Press, 2009) and Afro-Fabulations: The Queer Drama of Black Life (New York University Press, 2018). His current research interests include: the performative turn in museum curation; racial and sexual dissidence in art and culture; and the cultural history of digital technology. He is currently completing a short introduction to afrofuturism under contract with the series American Studies Now (University of California Press). Since 2021, Nyong’o has curated public programs at the Park Avenue Armory.

Price

  • Free

Date

  • Thu 08 Aug

Time

  • 6:00 pm

Main Gallery Entrance

  • 292 Karangahape Road
  • Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland