Endings and beginnings
Taking stock of a rollercoaster year, and looking ahead to what lies next
When we launched TONGUES in March 2020, the world (and us!) were being introduced to terms like “shelter in place” and “social distancing” — how quickly those words would become ubiquitous! Now, at the end of 2021, the world seems in no less a state of upheaval. While vaccines, mask-wearing and other measures have allowed most of us to move beyond the strictures of (to use that other early 2020 term) “hard lockdown”, a highly transmissible variant is leading to a surge of infections across the globe (and wreaking havoc with holiday plans). And, while President Trump has thankfully long departed from the White House, the obstreperous “centrist” Senator Manchin holds the Build Back Better Act hostage, and with it, America’s hopes to deliver on its climate goals.
As we brace for another dip on the seemingly interminable corona-rollercoaster, it’s easy to be consumed by the things that are going wrong, the trends tracking downwards, the missteps, and steps backwards. Which is why we are so grateful to TONGUES; through the incredible people we interview, we have been exposed to so much light, hope, connection, creativity, resilience and resistance. Yes: there is much to find disconcerting and alarming right now but, as our interviewees have reminded us, there is an abundance of reasons for hope too.
We are so grateful to each person who gave so generously of their time and insights in answering our questions — sharing words that were as thought-provoking as they were inspiring. A few favourites from the past year include:
- Dakota Mace, a Diné (Navajo) photographer and textile artist who told us about how she translates Diné language, history and beliefs into her stunning artworks – which run the gamut of photography, weaving, beadwork, and papermaking
- Jessica Ciel who was raised by her Afro-centric poet duo mother and
grandmother, and combines the cosmic influence of The Last Poets and Nina Simone with the California suburban valley girl references of her Sacramento upbringing. Ciel melds visual technical savvy (from her film post-production days) with artistic communication (from her fine-art photography practice). She discussed her short film, A Black Woman’s Declaration of Independence on TONGUES
- Mahdi Ehsaei, a photographer and designer born to Iranian parents in Germany. He told us about his project (and book), Afro-Iran in which he captured the culture, history and daily life of a forgotten minority in southern Iran: descendants of enslaved people and traders from Africa. Like him, the community he has documented embody the rich complexities of their own hyphenated identities
- Chris Soal, whose work invites us to question our perception around found objects and other industrial materials. He shared his reflections with us on a body of work that is simultaneously an exploration of materiality, and a reaction and a comment to Johannesburg’s socio-political tensions
On the cusp of 2022, which will be almost certainly filled with its own set of head-scratching, stomach churning unpredictability, our mission — to host “conversations with questioners, mavericks and mavens” — remains very much unchanged. We will continue to celebrate and showcase those who challenge convention, those who go against the grain. We will also continue to make a space where those from historically marginalised communities, subcultures and identities can share their stories, voices, perspectives.
TONGUES is all about learning, exchange and connection, and collaboration lies at the very heart of the platform. If you’re interested in contributing or have ideas about who we should interview, please get in touch! Who are the activists and artists we should be chatting to next?
Also, keep an eye out for a small design refresh to our site which will launch in the first quarter of the new year.
In gratitude — Alexander and Catarina