What are you currently working on—and what do you find particularly stimulating or challenging about it?
I’m developing and producing the show ›Dead God Flow‹, which will premiere during Berlin Art Week at Cank, Neukölln, presented by LAS Art Foundation. I’m also preparing for my first presentation at Frieze and my first solo gallery exhibition. What I find most challenging—and stimulating—is navigating how to make my practice more sustainable in the long term. I’m exploring how to move beyond large-scale, site-specific installations and challenge myself to scale down, embracing the idea of creating more domestic-sized artworks without fear of shrinking my ideas and feeling like an apartment cat, nothing wrong with that but that’s not how I want to feel (Laughs). It’s about finding a balance between rest, desire and practicality, while continuing to push my creative boundaries.
Do you have a daily ritual that gives you structure or inspiration?
What brings me the most peace at night after a hectic day is usually listening to the same album by Laraaji called ›Vision Songs Vol.1‹. It’s a devotional new age album that is very dear to my heart.
What kind of music do you listen to when you want to focus or reconnect with your creative process?
Ambient, ›Chopped and Screwed‹ and R&B instrumentals of my favorite songs by The Gap Band. I think my favorite song to feel reconnected to art is ›Outstanding‹ by The Gap Band and probably ›Birth of Rap‹ by Lil B.
Has there been a book that fundamentally changed your perspective—and why would you recommend it?
›The Undercommons‹ by Fred Moten and Stefano Harney. It shifted how I think about refusal, fugitivity… It gave me permission to believe in collectivity and under-the-radar ways of surviving and thriving. I’d recommend it to anyone who feels trapped by systems yet wants to keep dreaming.
Is there a work of art you would love to have in your home?
Some body prints by David Hammons. I’d love to live with them, they’d remind me every day that the body itself is the ultimate archive, I feel so disconnected from me at times that it would be a gentle reminder.
Which exhibition venue in Berlin inspires you?
KW Institute for Contemporary Art. It feels like a haunted house. I like that energy.
Is there an object that accompanies you and reflects a part of your identity?
My USB sticks. They carry my entire universe, music, edits, half-finished ideas, questionable bangers, sometimes even receipts. Basically, they’re my portable hard drive of dreams and mistakes. I’m realizing it sounds sooo dated. It’s like the equivalent of your 85 year-old neighbor asking you about a floppy disk.
What keeps you going, even in moments of doubt?
A belief that it is my responsibility to tell stories even imperfectly.
Which personality would you like to have a conversation with—and what would you talk about?
Alexander McQueen and DMX. I love firecracker personalities, they’re raw and I know they have insane stories and manage to turn anger, pain into magnificent things.
What do you look forward to when your working day comes to an end?
Cuddling with my life partner.