Karimah Ashadu (b. 1985, London), a British-born Nigerian artist and filmmaker, predominantly uses her practice to examine and relay themes of labour, patriarchy and notions of independence central to Nigeria’s history and its diaspora. Employing experimental modes of moving image, she captures mostly unstaged scenes, positioning the camera in flux and manoeuvring it in unexpected, corporeal ways. This approach allows perspective to fuel her fluid and compelling narratives. Often using hand-crafted devices, she obscurely layers and mirrors her own body, imbuing the camera with a sense of life – at times proposing it as an extension of herself, offering a unique point of view. By exploring and reconfiguring perceptions of self and place, Ashadu elevates the everyday, creating space for contemplation and encouraging independent consideration of her complex compositions.
