Lewisham (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Lewisham artist Jahnavi Inniss, 27, celebrates Black history through intricate quilting, using her art to honor heritage and cultural memory.
Jahnavi Inniss, a 27-year-old graduate of Central Saint Martins, was born and raised in Catford and currently works out of her studio in Lewisham Arthouse.
As a volunteer at the Black Cultural Archives in Brixton, Inniss decided to use her graphic design skills to tell the stories of the many black people from the 17th and 18th centuries that she had not studied in school.
She said:
“People should care about black history because it’s part of the national story. Black people have a place in Britain. We have contributed to this country. We have built this country, and people need to know that because it creates a sense of empowerment.”
Inniss challenges historical narratives and creates representation for Black Brits through her art by applying a critical eye.
Quilting was chosen as the “ideal medium because of its direct connections to Black history,” according to the graphic designer.
“I have never encountered an art form that has so much cultural relevance for black women because it was a way for black women to express themselves creatively,” she said.
“For example, enslaved people created quilts with secret communication devices that would tell people how to escape to North America. My work tells the history of black quilting whilst also telling black history.”
Inniss facilitates artistic workshops around the UK for organisations such as Craft Council England, Tate Britain, the South London Gallery and the Fitzwilliam Museum.
The artist was appointed the South London Gallery’s family space artist in residence this summer, where she conducted free workshops for kids ages five to twelve to make quilt blocks for the gallery’s massive quilt project.
The Black British History Quilt, Inniss’ greatest piece, is 11 meters long and includes the names of 34 black historical personalities from various eras, such as the Victorian, Tudor, Elizabethan, Stewart, and Georgian periods.
Over the summer, the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge hosted an exhibition titled “Rise Up: Resistance, Revolution, Abolition,” which included the Black British History Quilt.
Inniss said:
“I wanted to challenge the narrative that black people only arrived in Britain during the Windrush period because that time is often framed as when black people began to contribute to British society, which is not true. Black people have been contributing to British society for centuries before the 1950s.”
For her next piece, the artist is looking to explore local black history in Lewisham — a project that is set to be released next summer.
“When you know the history of your community, it provides a sense of empowerment and belonging,”
she added.
On 23rd October, Inniss will run a workshop at Republic London in Tower Hamlets, exploring quilting as a tool for storytelling.
How can schools book a community quilt workshop with the artist?
Contacting the artist Jahnavi Inniss, or another artist who facilitates storytelling workshops through quilting, is the first step for booking any arts-based workshops in your school or community group.
These community quilt workshops are usually collaborative fabric artwork projects in which quilt making is a vehicle for learning and interrogation about some social or community theme, and often require significant lead up time for scheduling, materials and staffing.
If schools would prefer a more customized option, you can contact one of the above and inquire about “community quilt workshops” or other arts-based workshops led by local creatives. Haringey Council’s cultural services, or the Bernie Grant Arts Centre, provide artist-led educational workshops as part of the BHH365 program, so reaching out to either of those may be a good avenue.