Coco Fusco on the State of Free Expression in Cuba

For our Season 7 finale, we are joined by Iranian photographer and activist Reihane Taravati.Reihane shares her story of growing up in Iran and the significant challenges she faced as a young woman pursuing a career in photography.In April 2022, she had the unique opportunity to photograph Narges Mohammadi, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning activist and human rights defender, during a brief release from prison. These powerful images would later be used to announce Narges' winning of the Nobel Prize. Today, she remains behind bars.Reihane reflects on the profound responsibility she felt in capturing Narges in her home environment that day.If you’re enjoying the Art Persists podcast, please consider leaving a review wherever you listen. With your support, we can ensure these vital stories reach more listeners.Learn more: https://www.boslaarts.com/tapp-reihane-taravatiFollow Bosla Arts on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boslaarts/

This week, we’re joined by Belarusian poet, translator, and writer Hanna Komar.Hanna shares her early life, growing up in a small village in Belarus, where she found comfort in poetry, and later discovered the power of writing poetry in Belarusian rather than Russian.She recounts the nationwide protests following the rigged presidential elections in Belarus, in which long-time President Lukashenka seized power once again. The protests were met with a fierce crackdown on activists, leading to Hanna and thousands of others being imprisoned.While sharing her story, Hanna also recites some of her deeply powerful and emotive poetry. She concludes by telling us about her upcoming play, Body in Progress, coming to London next month.As always, if you are enjoying the Art Persists podcast please leave a review wherever you listen. Only with your help can these important stories be heard.Learn more: https://www.boslaarts.com/tapp-hanna-komarFollow Bosla Arts on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boslaarts/

This week, we are joined by artist and activist Peter Kennard.Since the 1970s, Kennard has produced some of the world’s most influential works of resistance and protest. From the Vietnam War and the anti-Apartheid movement to the war in Ukraine and the siege on Gaza, Peter’s five decades of work have been dedicated to fighting for justice and holding power to account.We talk at length about his career, as well as his latest exhibition, Archive of Dissent, currently on display at the Whitechapel Gallery in London.As always, if you are enjoying the Art Persists podcast please leave a review wherever you listen. Only with your help can these important stories be heard.Learn more: https://boslaarts.com/tapp-peter-kennardFollow Bosla Arts on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boslaarts/

This week, we are joined by Melissa Bolivar, founder of Kites in Solidarity—a grassroots movement of volunteers founded in 2023 in response to the ongoing siege of Gaza.Melissa shares with us her decision to start Kites in Solidarity. After witnessing the horrors of the siege in Gaza through her phone every day, she felt compelled to take action.Since then, the movement has grown across the UK and around the world—a tribute to the power of collective solidarity.As always, if you are enjoying the Art Persists podcast please leave a review wherever you listen. Only with your help can these important stories be heard.Learn more: https://www.boslaarts.com/tapp-kites-in-solidarityFollow Bosla Arts on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boslaarts/

On the latest episode of Art Persists, we speak to Omaid Sharifi, Co-Founder & CEO of ArtLords, a grassroots movement founded in Kabul, Afghanistan in 2014, driven by the desire to harness the transformative power of art.We talk to Omaid about the early days of ArtLords, where he and group of artists and volunteers would paint the empty walls of Kabul and the rest of Afghanistan with murals, focused on bringing communities together. He tells us about August 2021 where the Taliban retook control over Afghanistan and the devastating days that have followed since - Omaid now lives in exile in the USA. He goes on to tell us about the incredible work that ArtLords continues to do today, both in Afghanistan and out, and the hope he still holds to one day return to his country. As always, if you are enjoying the Art Persists podcast please leave a review wherever you listen. Only with your help can these important stories be heard.Learn more: https://www.boslaarts.com/tapp-artlordsFollow Bosla Arts on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boslaarts/

We launch Season 7 of Art Persists with a special episode recorded live during Refugee Week 2024 in collaboration with Counterpoints Arts. Three artists / creative producers, Solomon aka. KMT, Boseda Olawoye, and Sally Watkins joined us live to talk about how they use art to create dialogue, connection, and community with people from refugee and minority backgrounds. Find out more about their work:Counterpoints Arts: https://counterpointsarts.org.uk/Solomon aka. KMT: https://www.instagram.com/kmt_may/Bo Olawoye: https://www.bosedaolawoye.com/B Side: https://www.instagram.com/bsidefestival/

The Art Persists Podcast is back with Season 7! Join us for another incredible season as we chat to renowned artists and activists from all around the world. We will hear from creative practitioners working in some of the most dangerous countries for artists in the world. As well as guests who use art to build communities, foster solidarity, and combat hate. Join us for the first episode out Wednesday, 2 October 2024.We are on Patreon! If you are enjoying the podcast, please consider subscribing to support our costs. From as little as £3 a month.And don't forget to subscribe wherever you listen.

In Part 2 of the Season 6 finale of The Art Persists Podcast, we continue our conversation with journalist, filmmaker and writer, Dr Myriam François.Myriam chats to us about the rise of Islamophobia today and why she thinks it is often considered an acceptable form of racism within society. We chat about having hope in youth and why she thinks current student protests in America and beyond are widely misrepresented and misunderstood. We end on thinking about the role of the artist in solidarity movements.The Art Persists Podcast is independently run by Bosla Arts' small team (Georgia & Faz). If you are enjoying the podcast, please support us via Patreon!Learn more: https://www.boslaarts.com/tapp-myriam-francoisFollow Bosla Arts on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boslaarts/

In the Season 6 finale of The Art Persists Podcast, we sit down with journalist, filmmaker and writer, Dr Myriam François.We chat to Myriam about how she is dealing with the state of the world today amid Israel's bombardment of Gaza. She questions society's moral boundaries, emphasising the need for discomfort in addressing the conflict. We go on to explore the artist's role in solidarity and resistance. Myriam delves into her film, Finding Alaa, illustrating how grief can unite people across divides. We unpack her background and talk about the racism she faced after converting to Islam as a young woman.The Art Persists Podcast is independently run by Bosla Arts' small team (Georgia & Faz). If you are enjoying the podcast, please support us via Patreon!Learn more: https://www.boslaarts.com/tapp-myriam-francoisFollow Bosla Arts on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boslaarts/

In the latest episode of Art Persists, we speak to interdisciplinary artist and writer Coco Fusco.Coco talks to us in depth about the historic oppression of artists in Cuba, which has accelerated since 2018 when the government introduced laws that stifle freedom of expression within the country. She tells us about her activism, advocating for the release of imprisoned artists in Cuba including her friend and fellow artist, Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, who has been imprisoned since July 2021. Coco also tells us more about her interdisciplinary work and writing and reflects on how the art scene has changed since the 80s.The Art Persists Podcast is independently run by Bosla Arts' small team (Georgia & Faz). If you are enjoying the podcast, please support us via Patreon!Learn more: https://www.boslaarts.com/tapp-coco-fuscoFollow Bosla Arts on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boslaarts/