Exploration: Hairytage
Hairytage is a live art experience that explores the changing nature of Peckham in South East London and the impact of gentrification on the lives of the community. The project was instigated by social designer and artist, Alix Bizet. Alix is interested in the traditions, symbolism, cultural significance, customs and beliefs attached to the heritage of hair, specifically the significance of hair in Afro-Caribbean in the community of Peckham. The afro hairdressers in Peckham have provided a strong social base for many generations of Afro and West Indian people, but with the ever creeping gentrification of local communities, such spaces are becoming increasingly precious. The film Hairytage by Alix, which you can view under under the Creative exchanges discussing Hair and Identity tab, became the trigger for this project and documents these changing times.
With the undercurrents of gentrification rippling through the collaboration, other artists and researchers in the school (HGAED) came forward to explore the themes of the project. The project evolved through inviting artists, academics and students to share and lead creative conversations around hair, gentrification and identity. A vital aspect of the project was that the research was situated in the community. This meant the creative discussion reached beyond the walls of the classroom and engaged with a local audience. This created a platform for students and the local community to discuss and share memories and hopes for the future of Peckham.
These creative discussions evolved over three main events:
The project grew exponentially over the first two events and different creative exchanges have been combined under three main headings that the project addresses:
1. Creative exchanges discussing Hair and Identity
2. Creative exchanges discussing Community and History
3. Creative exchanges discussing Gentrification
These creative discussions evolved over three main events:
- Starting the creative conversation at the Copeland Gallery as part of the Peckham Festival.
- The Hairytage research at Peckham Levels, part of Black History Month. This included our launch event.
- Hairytage the Final Cut concluding performance which pulled together the project took place at the South London Gallery.
The project grew exponentially over the first two events and different creative exchanges have been combined under three main headings that the project addresses:
1. Creative exchanges discussing Hair and Identity
2. Creative exchanges discussing Community and History
3. Creative exchanges discussing Gentrification
The concluding event, Hairytage: The Final Cut, took place at the South London Gallery, a performance that pulled together all the findings and creative exchanges from the research into a living archive.
Click on each link below for more information about each creative exchange and the final event which pulled together the project into a performative archive.
1. Creative exchanges discussing Hair and Identity
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2. Creative exchanges discussing Community and History
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3. Creative exchanges​ discussing Gentrification
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4. Hairytage the Final Cut
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