Conceived by Akeem Smith and hosted by Kerwin Frost, Dancehall Diaries exists as an extension of the artist’s first solo exhibition No Gyal Can Test, which took place at Red Bull Arts Detroit in 2021 and Red Bull Arts New York in 2020. This round table brings together a group of dancehall luminaries featured in the exhibition - Sandra Lee, Paula and Debbie Ouch, and Pinky - to discuss the social world of Kingston’s dancehall scene in the 1980s and 90s.
Integrating a pop-up video technique, Dancehall Diaries aims to humanize the women behind the archive while layering in key historical, personal, and pop culture facts about dancehall and the individuals who propelled the scene to a global movement. Kerwin connects key moments in the show with the real world experiences of the dancehall queens ultimately illustrating the development of dancehall’s influential visual aesthetics across two decades.
This contemporary take on an oral history reflects how the culture has changed and how these dancehall queens’ approach to life and visionary sense of style has contributed to the island’s evolving cultural legacy.
ABOUT THE PARTICIPANTS
Paula and Debbie Ouch are founding members of the Ouch Crew, the legendary six-woman crew and fashion house that helped define dancehall aesthetics through their styling, costuming work, and innumerable one-off designs. Moving from Brooklyn to a boutique in Kingston’s Half-Way Tree Square in the early 90s, Ouch created custom designs for stars such as Lady Saw, Ninja Man and Macka Diamond. The Ouch Crew also acted in and did costuming for the films Dancehall Queen (dir. Don Letts, 1997) and Belly (dir. Hype Williams, 1998). ​
Sandra Lee is a dancehall party promoter and hairstylist known for her movie star affect and eccentric looks. Characterized by her distinctive unibrow and bold makeup, she continues to be a persistent but shapeshifting presence in the scene.
Pinky is the sister of Dancehall Queen Carlene and member of her formidable crew. Introducing her sister to the culture in the early 90s, whose radically risqué sense of style has become one of the most recognizable and enduring images. Pinky continued to dance for major artists throughout the decade.
Learn more about Akeem Smith: www.newcanons.com/nc001-akeem... and follow him on Instagram / akeemouch