Long based in Brent, Rasheed Araeen’s practice has been devoted to reassessing and rewriting histories. Through his artistic work and prolific writing over six decades, Araeen has developed insight into means of making and ways of thinking in a shifting colonial context. 

Rasheed Araeen’s 1978 essay ‘Preliminary Notes for a Black Manifesto’, was first published in his independent magazine Black Phoenix, the text interrogates the lack of support from arts institutions for the artists in the UK of Asian and African origins. More than forty years since publication, its questions remain as relevant as ever. 

Araeen’s 'Reading Room' (2016-ongoing), which has been gifted to Metroland Cultures, is featured at the visitors hub of the Brent Biennial 2022, In the House of My Love. 'Reading Room' consists of seating and table structures housing the first one hundred issues of 'Third Text’. The journal, established by Araeen in Brent in 1987, remains at the forefront of debates exploring art, culture and postcolonialism.

With thanks to Brent Libraries and Archives and Rasheed Araeen Studios.

Rasheed Araeen, Preliminary Notes For A Black Manifesto - Brent Biennial 2022

A recorded audio-description of Mohammed Zaahidur Rahman's Brent Biennial 2022 commission, Unfurnished. Audio-description by Shivaangee Agrawal. 

Artist, illustrator and zine-maker Mohammed Zaahidur Rahman’s commissioned series of paintings, titled Unfurnished, is both a visual folk history and a dreamscape of migrants making homes in Britain. 

Through six allegorical rooms, Rahman explores belonging through the lens of love and relationships, horticulture and agriculture, art, the act of crossing borders, resistance and food. In these paintings, sterile interiors evoking erasure and uprootedness are made hospitable with a cast of histories, figures, flora and domestic objects. The dream-like scenes deal with a sense of placelessness, speaking to the possibility of falling to forces that negate migrant histories in the UK. In doing so, Rahman reflects on the impact this erasure can have on one’s sense of self, identity, politics and sanity. 

Rahman’s research for Unfurnished drew on local Brent histories as touchpoints, including the Grunwick dispute, Kuo Yuan (the first Pekingese restaurant in the UK, which opened on the Willesden High Road in 1963), soundsystem culture, statistical migration resources from Brent Council and the produce sold in Kilburn Market. 

The imagery riffs on unsung figures and histories to celebrate mutual aid and care in the communities that are represented, whilst also alluding to past and present struggles and systemic challenges that migrants face; most recently through the Covid-19 pandemic, the cost of living crisis and the Hostile Environment policy. 

Unfurnished offers a response and an antidote to the Minister of State for Equalities Kemi Badenoch’s 2020 speech, which the artist interpreted as a call to subdue critical histories of migrants and racialised people in both education and public discourse. Through the work, Rahman presents a way of telling history that is willing to celebrate the joys of migrant life, acts of compassion and the historical, political and cultural contributions of migrants to life in the UK—whilst addressing ongoing legacies of colonialism, the UK’s ties to armed conflict abroad, the 7/7 attacks, the Essex 39, the Windrush scandal and xenophobia in a post-Brexit UK, where racial and class divides persist amid inconsistent and insufficient government responses.

Mohammed Zaahidur Rahman, Unfurnished (Audio Description) - Brent Biennial 2022

Cassette from the glasshouse at St. Raphael's garden.

Side A - 2 Priya's Prompts

Side A - 1 Roy's Audio Description

Audio artworks created by the Metroland Young Associates of 2023 for their exhibition We Were Here.

Final Ghost - Helayna Lagos

No Sub Slow - 001 - Onosiokhue Yakubu

NewZones - Kerry Oamen

FAIRIES - Lada Kopytova

Radiomixdown - Lada Kopytova

Waking The Witch - Carmen Bratosin

Jailcall - Ishé Grant

MY LONDON

Saturday Morning - Safia Amarchih

Dr Monique Charles - author of 'Hallowed be thy Grime?' 

Brent 2020 No Bass Like Home Digital Archives

Brent 2020 - Dr Monique Charles - Fandom

MIke Smith - Reggae Fan

Brent 2020 No Bass Like Home Digital Archive

Brent 2020 - Michael Smith - Fandom

Barry Brown - Reggae Fan

No Bass Like Home Reggae Digital Archives

Brent 2020 - Barry Brown - Fandom

Leighton Beckford - Reggae Fan 

No Bass Like Home Digital Reggae Archive

Brent 2020 - Leighton Beckford - Fandom

Brent 2020 No Bass like Home Reggae Digital Archive

Hear from DJ Texas Ranger on her journey into reggae and the impact of reggae and black British music on Brent.

Brent 2020 - DJ Texas Ranger - Women In Reggae

Michael Williams - Dread Broadcasting Corporation

Brent 2020 No Bass like Home Reggae Digital Archive

Brent 2020 - Michael Williams - DBC - Sound Of The Underground

Robin Catto - K2K radio and DJ for Reggae Heaven show

Brent 2020 No Bass like Home Reggae Digital Archive

Brent 2020 - Robin Catto - Sound Of The Underground

Bobby Davis - The Sensations

Brent 2020 No Bass like Home Reggae Digital Archive

Brent 2020 - Bobby Davis - Pioneering Artists

Leroy Wilson - Reggae UK Fraternity and Arema

Brent 2020 No Bass like Home Reggae Digital Archive

Brent 2020 - Leroy Wilson - Pioneering Artists

Winston Francis - Reggae Artist

Brent 2020 No Bass like Home Reggae Digital Archive

Brent 2020 - Winston Francis - Pioneering Artists

Locksley Gichie - Founding member of the Cimerons Band 

Brent 2020 No Bass like Home Reggae Digital Archive

Brent 2020 Locksley Gichie - Pioneering Artists

Brent 2020 No Bass Like Home Digital Reggae Archive

Emma Louise Bucknor - Former backing vocalist for Soul II Soul

Emma - Louise Bucknor - Women In Reggae

Brent 2020 No Bass Like Home Digital Reggae Archive 

Reggae fan Errol Donald shares his journeys in  reggae

Errol Donald - Fandom

Brent 2020 No Bass Like Home Digital Reggae Archive 

Listen to reggae pioneer Barry Biggs sharing his journey into reggae.

Barry Biggs - Pioneering Artist

Brent 2020 No Bass Like Home Digital Reggae Archive 

Reggae pioneer Vivian Jones shares his journey into reggae and the impact of reggae on Brent

Vivian Jones - Pioneering Artist

Brent2020 No Bass Like Home Digital Reggae Archive

Hear from 'Popsy' from Starlight Records and his journey into reggae

Popsy (Starlight Records) Sound Of The Underground

Brent 2020 No Bass Like Home Digital Reggae Archive

Hear from award winning BBC Radio 1Xtra presenter, Seani B on his journey into reggae.

Seani B - Sound Of The Underground

Brent 2020 No Bass Like Home Digital Reggae Archive

Hear Laurence Cane-Honeysett share his experience of working for the iconic Trojan Records.

Laurence Cane-Honeysett- Sound Of The Underground

Brent 2020 Digital Reggae Archive

MC Buskin from British UK garage crew Heartless Crew shares his journey into garage through reggae.

MC Bushkin (Heartless Crew) - Pioneering Artists

Brent 2020 No Bass Like Home Digital Reggae Archive

Hear from reggae and jungle pioneer General Levy on his journey into reggae and reggae in Brent.

General Levy Pioneering Artists

Brent 2020 No Bass Like Home Digital Reggae Archive 

This recording was part of the Bass Rewind Session on the 12th February which took place at the Jamaican High Commission to coincide with Reggae Month. 

Hear from lovers rock legend Carroll Thompson and DJ / Producer Shy One,  share their connection to reggae. The event was hosted by Brent 2020 Community Advisor Patricia Wharton aka DJ Blaze

Carroll Thompson & Shy One Interview Bass Rewind 12 February 2020

Brent 2020 No Bass Like Home Digital Reggae Archive

Hear from DJ and Presenter Robbo Ranx on his journey into reggae and the impact on Brent

Robbo Ranx - Sound Of The Underground

BRENT 2020 NO BASS LIKE HOME DIGITAL REGGAE ARCHIVE

Hear from Reverend Stuart Melchor on his journey into reggae

Reverend Stuart Melchor - Fandom

Metroland Cultures is an arts charity based in and serving the London Borough of Brent. Our vision is that Brent is known globally for its arts and culture, and its people and communities are recognised and celebrated for shaping it. Our mission is to build, share and support art and culture in Brent: supporting communities to amplify stories of Brent life, and working with artists to tell new stories.

Metroland Cultures

Popular tracks