'Declaration of Independence' by Barby Assante

The Declaration of Independence is a performative forum, mirroring conference and assembly spaces used to negotiate treaties of independence, coalitions, trade deals, manifestos and policies. Asante’s associated performance, performed on Sunday 24 February, also entitled The Declaration of Independence, invited the public to make individual declarations and takes throughout BALTIC’s gallery and non-gallery spaces.

Asante said: “I am bringing together groups of women of colour to reflect on how the political affects the personal and how cultural implications of historic declarations, policies and legislations impact on their lives; to consider the possibilities for collective actions for the future and to rethink our understanding of monumental moments in world history such as declarations of independence.”

Barby Asante is a London-based artist, curator, educator and occasional DJ. Her work creates situations and spaces for conversation, collective thinking, ritual and re-enactment. Her projects are centred in performative actions, research and togetherness to think about contemporary geographies, race, gender and social justice; to articulate perspectives that critically reflect on the legacies of slavery and colonialism and to discuss how histories also inform the present.