Colourism has often been defined as the racial discrimination of individuals based on the tonalities within the colour of their skin
This talk will investigate structural colourism in the history of photographic processes, emphasised through the invention of colour correction cards in the 1950s. These were used by photography labs to calibrate skin tones, shadows and light during the printing process -favouring lighter skin tones, while leaving darker skin tones looking blurred or unidentifiable.
Photographer and activist Angélica Dass will discuss her project Humanae, investigating the chromatic range of human skin tones using a taxonomy adopting the format of the PANTONE® Guide – challenging social classifications of race and colour.
Film and theatre director Nadia Latif will look at how the evolution of cameras and lighting in film have influenced the depiction of black actors, actresses and characters.
This event explores themes in Autograph’s current exhibitions Lola Flash: [sur]passing and Maxine Walker: Untitled.
Arrive at 6:30pm for an opportunity to view the Maxine Walker exhibition. The talk will start at 7pm, and take place in Lola Flash’s exhibition in our ground floor gallery. The talk will end with a Q&A with the audience.
Angélica Dass is an award-winning photographer living in Madrid, Spain. Originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, she is acutely aware of how small differences in skin tone can swell into large misconceptions and stereotypes about race. She is the creator of the internationally acclaimed Humanæ Project, a collection of portraits that reveal the diverse beauty of human colors.
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Nadia is a theatre maker and film director. She trained as a director at RADA under Bill Gaskill.
She works exclusively in new writing, and has worked for buildings & companies including the Almeida, Royal Shakespeare Company, National, Bush, Theatre503 and Arcola.
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Everyone is welcome at Autograph. Our building Rivington Place is an accessible space with a step-free entrance at street level, and a lift to all floors. Unisex, accessible toilets are located on all floors.
This event will take place in our second floor gallery, accessible by a lift and stairs. Seating at the talk is not reserved in advance. If you would like to reserve seating to assist with hearing, visual or any other access needs, please contact us before your visit.
Carers receive a free ticket when they accompany the person they care for. Please contact us to book.
Download our Accessibility Guide for detailed access information about our venue and transport.
If you would like to discuss your visit, or have any questions, please contact us at info@autograph-abp.co.uk or 020 7749 9200
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Autograph's events are popular, and often sell out. We cannot guarantee that tickets will be available on the door, and recommend booking a ticket in advance. If you need to cancel your ticket for any reason, you can receive a refund up to 24 hours before the start of the event. Concessions tickets are available for students, those on low income, and 65+. Seating is not reserved in advance, and is on a first-come first-seated basis. You do not need to bring your paper ticket to the event.
Tickets to this event can be booked on this webpage, on Eventbrite, via the Facebook event, by phoning Autograph at 020 7729 9200, or by emailing info@autograph-abp.co.uk. Tickets to Autograph's events are only available through Eventbrite, Autograph, and Autograph's Facebook page. Tickets obtained unofficially or resold via social media or other platforms may not be genuine.
Please note that photography and/or filming will take place at this event. Images from this event may be used by Autograph and external press for marketing and promotional use, including: printed and online publicity, social media, press releases, or other use.
Banner image: Angélica Dass, Humanae Project. Page images, from top left: 1) From 'but i cd only whisper', play by Kristiana Rae Colon at the Arcola Theatre. Directed by Nadia Latif. 2) Angélica Dass. 3) Nadia Latif, photograph by Rebecca Reid. 4)Detail from a contact sheet from the series Untitled, 1995. © Maxine Walker, Courtesy of the artist and Autograph, London. 4) Maxine Walker, Untitled, 1997. Courtesy of the artist and Autograph, London. 5) Maxine Walker, Her. From the series Black Beauty, 1991. Courtesy of the artist and Autograph, London. 6) Lola Flash, Dominque [detail], Brooklyn, 2011, from the series [sur]passing. Courtesy of the artist. 7) Rivington Place, home of Autograph. Photograph by Zoe Maxwell.
Autograph is a place to see things differently. Since 1988, we have championed photography that explores issues of race, identity, representation, human rights and social justice, sharing how photographs reflect lived experiences and shape our understanding of ourselves and others.
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