Real Time and Space is overjoyed to host REAL TALKS with resident artist Asari Aibangbee and our special guest, Jana Lang. Join us on Wednesday, July 23rd at 6pm. RTS is located at 125 10th St. Oakland – get here early for PIZZA!
Asari Aibangbee is an interdisciplinary artist based in Los Angeles, specializing in filmmaking, fiber/textile art, and art curation. Originally from Los Angeles, Asari’s artistic journey began in San Francisco, where they founded the collective To Be Black and Queer and established themselves as an independent filmmaker. As a queer Nigerian femme, their work centers on the experiences of Black Queer individuals across the African diaspora, exploring themes of identity, community, and intersectionality.
In 2021, Asari began experimenting with tufting, a medium that gained momentum in 2023 during their first artist residency, alongside their work with cyanotypes. Their fiber art blends traditional techniques, such as hand tufting with a tufting gun and punch needle, with sustainable yarn and other materials to create intricate compositions. These pieces explore symbols, cultural artifacts, and motifs significant to the Black Queer community, serving as metaphors for broader conversations on identity, belonging, and the diasporic experience.
Asari’s work emphasizes the softness and vulnerability of Black Queer individuals, particularly Black non-men, challenging traditional narratives and offering a nuanced perspective on tenderness and resilience. Their involvement in programs like Beyond the Screen with A24, the Promise Workshops at the Academy Museum, and the Queer Women of Color Film Festival has influenced their world-building approach to art.
Jana Malkia Lang (she/they) is a multidisciplinary artist, community organizer, and practitioner + culture bearer of African diasporic wisdom. She uses painting, collage, language, graphic design, fabrics, and altar building to bring forth truths, stories, and memories for her holistic health, communal healing and survival.