Barbara Walker - ‘It’s like life itself, like the air I breathe’

Barbara Walker - ‘It’s like life itself, like the air I breathe’ | Tate

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7 ай бұрын

In this film visual artist Barbara Walker MBE, RA shows us around her studio in Birmingham and talks about the themes present in her practice, including temporality, power and body politics.
We also see her creating a free-hand wall drawing in Towner Gallery as part of her series Burden of Proof, whereby she creates large-scale in-situ portraits of individuals affected by the Windrush Scandal
Barbara Walker is nominated for the 2023 Turner Prize, hosted by Towner Eastbourne. The winner will be announced on 5 December 2023.
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Пікірлер: 240

@catianamunoz5655 6 ай бұрын

"In all the time that I create these drawings, I know they're temporary. So in a way I'm already saying goodbye when I begin the first mark." Such a beautiful way to describe a feeling.

@CreativelyYoursMyesha 6 ай бұрын

Indeed! When I heard the quote, I had the same feeling at :31… I’d never thought about it that way, but when you consider it, to crate anything, give birth to anything is ultimately knowing that you must say goodbye. We constantly carry this feeling with us in almost everything we do, but never acknowledge it in such a beautiful way.

@leif1075 6 ай бұрын

Why are they necessarily temporary? That's not true..look at all the centuries old art preserved in museums?

@Marco-qo7ct 6 ай бұрын

Free hand traditional art in that scale is crazy. Absolutely love it.

@michaelcash1675 7 ай бұрын

Beautiful, sensitive, compassionate work. What an artist, what a person.

@DeniseHibbler-pz4ii 6 ай бұрын

Yes! it feels like, as she says... life within itself being, connected with spirit... beautiful 😍... deeper than we really could imagine! Blessings, my sister! ❤

@Oli92_ 7 ай бұрын

Barbara Walker's art resonates with me on a personal level, particularly as someone whose grandparents were of the Windrush generation.

@harryeichelberger4799 7 ай бұрын

How can one not be moved? Beautiful and powerful work.

@passiturner3239 7 ай бұрын

That is awesome! ❤️

@Anil18834 6 ай бұрын

Barbara Walker's work is magnificent. You can always tell when there's a profound thought process behind a work of art, or in fine design.

@CreativelyYoursMyesha 6 ай бұрын

Indeed! Without even knowing her story, you can sense that these pieces were created with great power and meaning.

@goldengilmaky6788 6 ай бұрын

It’s sad our society only rewards talentlessness and mediocrities. She’s a living legend.

@oywiththepoodlesalready 5 ай бұрын

I agree but for a second there I thought you were saying she was talentless and mediocre lol.

@kshillingford4921 4 ай бұрын

It is what keeps the "elite" at the "top" and what keeps the people blind and unknowing.

@hottafyah6278 7 ай бұрын

Such a heinous racist crime committed against Black Caribbeans who help to rebuild their country, and so powerful that the art was done of proof of citizenship letters, even though they were already citizens and ALlL Caribbean countries were part of the British empire after world war 2.

@hoomanot 7 ай бұрын

Sickly and deplorable! The Indian government tried to do the same thing to the muslim minority by trying to introduce the draconian and exclusionary Citizen Amendment Act (CAA) in 2019. They failed.

@Ravenelvenlady 7 ай бұрын

It's straight up exploitation, similar to chattel enslavement.

@tems81 6 ай бұрын

Remember the jews ?

@terrencetaylor8196 3 ай бұрын

Are you surprise? I"m not.

@eviataryarhi6708 7 ай бұрын

This woman had made something new I can’t put my finger on it but I love it

@kristennelson84 8 ай бұрын

Holy moly. This is phenomenal! What talent ❤

@uxbymia 6 ай бұрын

There's a lot to unpack in this 7 minutes clip. She's truly talented!

@rinber13 7 ай бұрын

Wonderful artist. Her intelligence and compassion shines through her work.

@SallyMoore1000 7 ай бұрын

Barbara was a lovely friend. She was always very committed to her work, her integrity shines through in all she does. Sending love and admiration for all she has achieved and for continuing to speak out for justice and humanity through her work.

@tjtessa8158 6 ай бұрын

eyy why you talking like she dead?

@SallyMoore1000 6 ай бұрын

I'm not. We were friends when I lived in Handsworth. We are not in contact now. Sorry if you misunderstood. @@tjtessa8158

@Mute-chan420 7 ай бұрын

A master of her craft. Absolutely amazing

@ecburt5046 7 ай бұрын

Wow! Powerful statement on so many levels. Love her artwork, blown away from the scale on which she works. She is so articulate about her mission, their stories, the motive behind these portraits. Amazing woman. I could sit and listen to her, watch her work for hours. I hope she is successful to raise awareness for these people.

@kingofkings7164 6 ай бұрын

The Fact that you know about ( these People)by seeing this an her work means she is already successful at raising awareness . You are Aware and Others who have seen this.

@CreativelyYoursMyesha 6 ай бұрын

There are so many poignant quotes in this message. The one that resonates with me the most as an artist is “when I’m working, it’s like the air I breathe. I’t like life itself.” Wow! How beautifully stated. I thought I was the only one. Thanks for sharing! Phenomenal artist- just amazing! Also, in the way she spoke so clearly about her work, providing a direct and potent connection with the me the viewer.

@missnoneofyourbusiness 7 ай бұрын

This made me feel like doing gesture drawing! I love her work. It truly is inspiring in a lot of ways.

@CreativelyYoursMyesha 6 ай бұрын

Haha! Indeed! as an artist I immediately felt an urge to have some chalk and large white paper to sketch something, real quick. Very moving work.

@spinach4616 6 ай бұрын

huge huge heart and vulnerablilty in her pieces. Wow

@sully4264 7 ай бұрын

I could see the pain in their eyes even before the explanation. It brought me to tears to see their emotions so viscerally represented. Beautiful

@thelyricshub5292 6 ай бұрын

Wow. Barbara Walkers work is incredible. I love how she interprets erasure and her style of portraiture. Very powerful, vulnerable and meaningful.

@bertodey 7 ай бұрын

I would love to walk into her studio and just look

@passiturner3239 7 ай бұрын

Me too! 😁❤️

@joz411no8 6 ай бұрын

Such significant work, yet only there so temporarily. It's like building a masterpiece sand castle.

@evelyne7071 7 ай бұрын

The history of their mistreatment shows on their portraits. Excellent.

@AUGUSTO_SMILE 7 ай бұрын

Wow! Her pieces are beautiful and sensible, with a strong meaning over the value in us and how it fades for some people. Super inspirational.

@dylancorbisiero6580 6 ай бұрын

She is a name for the ages and I just saw this video and I love her work

@lbeckamaria 7 ай бұрын

So powerful and sensitive. I am so thankful for Barbara Walker's amazing work.

@robingrant1965 7 ай бұрын

A very beautiful person doing beautiful art! I draw too! I was intrigued by that huge pencil! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾❤️

@lovedbythestars9609 7 ай бұрын

Reminding us of people's dignity through the power of line....and some in this comment section hateful and angry about this artist's talent.

@lovenature7823 7 ай бұрын

Stunningly beautiful work Ms. Walker, thank you for elevating the people, and their cause through drawing. Drawing, where it all begins, direct, to the point, and beautiful line.👍🏼💯

@mariannewolf57 6 ай бұрын

Incredible personality- outstanding works of art!

@selversterharley7628 7 ай бұрын

The power of memory ! With the power of drawing its an équation ! You art IS immortel madame ! Many soul live again inside 🔥🖤🙏🏾

@evelynmayton470 6 ай бұрын

she is a treasure, amazing.

@passiturner3239 7 ай бұрын

Wow! She’s an amazing! She’s curated her people’s images and proof of existence and citizenship that Black people are too commonly denied and erased (as she noted) through her detailed art installations. WONDERFUL! 🤗❤️🙏🏾🔥

@ziraprod6090 7 ай бұрын

What a bunch of bunk.

@lindyashford7744 7 ай бұрын

@@ziraprod6090 on the contrary. Denial and erasure is exactly what happened in the case of the Windrush generation people. Many at the point of retirement or beyond, having worked a lifetime in low paid work and as actual citizens and tax payers were denied their citizenship rights, and deported (denial) and when they tried to make their case for being here legally and by invitation found that their documentation of naturalisation had been destroyed by the relevant government department (erasure). Many of them had been in the very first wave of invitees, who were needed for essential occupations, in 1947. The decisions against them also affected younger family members.

@ramjeevacartoons 7 ай бұрын

‘It’s like life itself, like the air I breathe’ 🌻🌼

@mannishboy1964 6 ай бұрын

Mrs. Barbara Walker work is beautiful and powerful!

@blackgirlmagic1111 7 ай бұрын

Thank you Ms Walker for highlighted the plight of the Windrush generation. I know so many people who have been caught up in this and it's so sad and unfair!

@camilajimenezramirez2824 7 ай бұрын

when emotion meets technique it becomes art

@azerefftx2558 6 ай бұрын

🔥🔥🔥

@sandieclarke8139 7 ай бұрын

A superb artist and an amazing, wonderful lady.

@Sachaannstarart 7 ай бұрын

This is beautiful real life story telling! 💜

@Businessplease930 7 ай бұрын

Simply beautiful. Thank you for your work

@MrPhotodoc 7 ай бұрын

I like the idea of using a printed document with the actual figure. Never seen that before.

@TahtahmesDiary 7 ай бұрын

Her words and art really touched my soul ❤

@CH.2024. 7 ай бұрын

THIS WORK IS AMAZING. Speechless, that's all I can say. Thank you. 💙

@mikeoconnor4682 6 ай бұрын

Wow! That was powerful. Just wow

@CuauGuerra Ай бұрын

Contemporary art that is BOTH beautiful and actually means something, FINALLY!

@hijabrizwan224 7 ай бұрын

I met her in Pakistan, where she exhibited her work. Have been in awe since.

@Omoloya1 7 ай бұрын

So inspirational, a real push. Thank you, Ms. Walker and Tate!

@josephmartinez7045 7 ай бұрын

Gorgeous work

@Chrisostomos 6 ай бұрын

Stunning portraits. Very beautiful.

@richaverma23 6 ай бұрын

she is a gift to humankind

@reefmcnall4833 7 ай бұрын

woah. powerful work, well spoken, immense vitality. I'm moved

@DGI300 7 ай бұрын

You are an amazing artist! Your art is moving and so are you!

@lisabolo4359 6 ай бұрын

Speechless with how brilliant she is!! Bravo, Bravissima!!

@lightuponlight6727 7 ай бұрын

Wow. Beautiful work. Thank you Ms Walker.

@kmm2442 7 ай бұрын

Gosh I love it all. I love how natural they are.

@rahma4043 7 ай бұрын

She’s awesome.

@arizonaunplugged-neilbrook9509 7 ай бұрын

Such an amazing gift🤙🏽👊🏽🤘🏽💯

@angelbaby1811 5 ай бұрын

THIS is what God given talent looks like. Absolutely stunning work.

@DejiniraLee 6 ай бұрын

Gorgeous work. So full of meaning and power.

@BRUQBEATS 6 ай бұрын

Amazingly talented artist. ❤️👌🏽

@mamatrace8304 2 ай бұрын

Her voice helped me open up. I saw my past life in GB but to your probable distaste it is as a melanated noblewoman with a red haired lover living our idyllic life in the woods. It's so clear. Like movie scenes... moments w smells and sounds of the different grasses. How the light changed his skin tone at different times of day. I do love Paul so. I truly understand Mona Lisa's smile. We are gracious to you all. Back Together Again!

@Angela-pi6zc 7 ай бұрын

Thoughtful and empathetic and sympathetic...

@russellkitch4043 6 ай бұрын

First time I have seen your work which I think is amazing technically and shows " emotion and soul ''. Will search for more of your Art. An ex UK migrant living in the West Coast of Australia.

@rootsandpots5841 7 ай бұрын

Beautiful Artist.❤

@antm64 6 ай бұрын

Very talented and skilled artist! Explaining art is an impossible challenge...one of the many mysteries of the human existence.

@LeeSunrise 7 ай бұрын

God Bless you Barbara Walker, always and forever. Absolutely stunning, the message, the pieces, you, your voice. Thank you for your work, for conveying such deep meaning, feeling, and dedication. You are an inspiration, thank you for being here. I am so happy this video showed up in my life, showing me there are rooms where such nuanced conversations exist. I am so grateful. 🙏

@williajohnson1851 7 ай бұрын

Beautiful. This work. This story. It all made my morning. Thank you.😄

@katienumiusher 5 ай бұрын

❤ Barbara Walker is TRULY amazing as always!!! Thanks for sharing.

@dienekevugts5572 7 ай бұрын

I'm very impressed by this video. For me, a new way to look at this issue.

@vegetajp7 6 ай бұрын

Wow, she has a God-given talent. I can draw, but I want this level. I wish I could draw like her.

@realistian 7 ай бұрын

phenomenal!

@janel4582 6 ай бұрын

Powerful!

@lcox6468 5 ай бұрын

Beautiful work of Barbara’s . They are amazing in there size alone! So inspiring.

@deannagrimm5154 6 ай бұрын

Amazing talent 👏 so beautiful ❤

@gardeniainbloom812 7 ай бұрын

Beautiful work. Thank you Barbara Walker.

@galaxylucia1898 6 ай бұрын

Incredible work of art. Totally feel her when she states she’s most at peace when working.

@vickersthedoc 7 ай бұрын

Thank you for bringing together beauty, power and truth. Your work is inspiring. With Deep gratitude and sending good energy your way.

@mizb.9170 7 ай бұрын

Drawing and painting to me is like breathing

@sayusayme7729 7 ай бұрын

Absolutely gorgeous, how wonderfully inspiring.

@thalittguru7697 5 ай бұрын

Phenomenal Woman x Awe/Inspiring bodies of work and Character ❤🎉. May God Bless You Barbara Walker as a person of Integrity, Grace and Compassion ❤🎉😊

@freereinartstudio1463 Ай бұрын

Love!!

@parathink 7 ай бұрын

Wow. Love them.

@pepelepeau 7 ай бұрын

LOVE!

@levmyshkin8366 7 ай бұрын

Brilliant artwork, and with an important point to make

@JeremyLey 7 ай бұрын

Wow!

@JulietteWilliams 7 ай бұрын

What gorgeous work!!

@andrewrea2799 7 ай бұрын

Powerful work.

@fayevassel1345 7 ай бұрын

Absolutely stunning work!

@mnj4621 6 ай бұрын

What an extraordinary artist. Is there anyway to see her work outside of the UK ? Paris maybe ?

@celesteroney2895 2 ай бұрын

Beautiful!

@truerthanyouknow9456 6 ай бұрын

Oh my... Wow

@clancykeegan748 7 ай бұрын

So beautiful.

@emo516 6 ай бұрын

wow... talent.

@Itsburgaboy 5 ай бұрын

Love This

@kmmyers 7 ай бұрын

Brilliant!

@Muttley3000 7 ай бұрын

Bravo!

@ColecionadorDeConhecimento 6 ай бұрын

Omg! So, so amazing!

@sallyweiner4180 7 ай бұрын

Beautiful ❤

@laricamistica 7 ай бұрын

So beautiful

@darylcumming7119 6 ай бұрын

Thank you.

@kirstyhepworth7343 6 ай бұрын

I love her work