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Artifacts of Identity: Crafting Meaningful Narratives with Personal Objects by Léwuga Benson
April 22 @ 6:00 pm– 8:00 pm EDT
Free – $10.00
Monday, April 22, 2024, 6–8 pm
Free or suggested donation
Open to ages 16+. All materials provided. Please bring a meaningful personal object you wish to explore!
Workspace Resident Lewuga Benson will facilitate conversations with participants on the transformative powers of personal artifacts and the ways they can shape personal and community narratives. This workshop will be both structured and flexible, and participants will be encouraged to share and explore in depth the meanings of their own personal objects. Lewuga will then guide students through creative exercises in different mediums around their chosen artifact. The workshop encourages collaboration, reflection, and meaningful dialogue among participants, fostering a sense of community and creative exploration.
Biography of the instructor
Léwuga Tata Benson: As an interdisciplinary artist and filmmaker, my work bridges cultures and explores the dynamic interplay between identity, environmental sustainability, and human connection. Rooted in my Ogoni heritage in Nigeria, I draw inspiration from our tradition of repurposing to prevent waste. This ethos infuses my art, as seen in installations like “The Land Gives Until It No Longer Can, 2022,” “Hang in There, 2022,” “Traces of Displacement, 2023,” “Carrying Identity, Carrying The Weight, 2023,” and “Fueling Change, 2024.” In Ogoni storytelling, we engage all the senses, integrating songs, dance, and props for a holistic experience. My artistic practice seamlessly incorporates these traditions to create immersive narratives that provoke thought, foster empathy, and celebrate cultural richness. My journey has been marked by awards and accolades, including the NYSCA 2024 Grant and the Gregory Capasso scholarship for outstanding work in film, underscoring my commitment to the arts.
Workspace Residency is generously supported by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.
