By Jess Wan
Shades of Noir is like a family. I never imagined that I could be part of a team where everyone is so kind and genuinely supportive of one another.
When I first learned of the opportunity to work with SoN, I was delighted because its goal and values are much in line with my curatorial practices. Another reason to join the team is my growing passion for inclusive and activism-led creative practices as well as the desire to make an impact.
From engaging discussion on key terms such as intersectionality, cultural representation and discrimination to book clubs on Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire, my time at SoN has been filled with learning and personal development. During the first three months of our tenure, we were each gifted with five selected books to read and reflect on. Meanwhile, I gained access to rich archives and library sources of the six UAL campuses.
This has been an invaluable working experience for me, not just for the practical knowledge I have accumulated when writing and giving presentations, but also for being able to share this journey with other members who are passionate about taking positive actions to increase equity and inclusion in our society.
Following the global pandemic, many of us are battling with extenuating circumstances resulting from isolation, uncertainty, lost jobs or mental distress. Personally, moving to London during the lockdown and being separated from my family and friends back home has been extremely challenging.
Whenever I was discouraged and thought that I was not doing enough, I looked through my work and discussion at SoN and was able to feel grateful again. In my opinion, it is helpful to consciously remove oneself from the negative loop at times to remember all the positive and mundane things happening every day. Being a part of the SoN family means having a discursive space to talk about what really matters and moves my heart deep down.
What am I motivated by? What are the things I do that make me happy? What can I do for others who might be suffering from the same situation? Taking a movement to think about these seemingly simple yet profound questions has helped me to navigate my MA study during this unprecedented time.
It’s important for everyone to feel valued and appreciated, to feel a sense of belonging to the community that you love. What makes the SoN family unique for me is also its commitment to caring for individual needs and well-being by cultivating an environment where everyone’s contribution is openly acknowledged.
Collaborative and imaginative, the SoN platform is a safe space for like-minded peers to get together and share their stories. I believe my time at SoN will stay with me and shine a light on all my future adventures.
Last but not least, I would like to thank my team members who have supported me through this incredible journey, and they are Aisha Richards · Angie Illman · Melodie Holliday · Montana Williamson · Dr Kwame Baah · Samia Malik · Aarony Bailey · Dr Deborah Gabriel · Rodney · Reece Higham · Nana Kwadwo · Ramone Anderson · Sarah Adigwe · Shin Aduwa· Ellen Wu.
