About this Event
We invite you to join us for a special student-only event to celebrate our new exhibition, BLACK: The Graphic Novel.
Curated by Don John, BLACK tells the story of Tobias Taitt, set to striking illustrations by Anthony Smith.
This event is a unique opportunity to hear from Tobias and Don, as they discuss the social issues surrounding Tobias’ life in care and within the criminal justice system. Don first met Tobias when he was living in Southampton, and through their conversation, you will hear his extraordinary story which highlights the institutional challenges faced by many children of the “Windrush Generation”.
Tobias Taitt was raised as a child of the state and spent the 1970s and 1980s in various care homes in the South of England. As a care leaver at 15, he quickly descended into crime, and was imprisoned for several years. During this time, Tobias developed a keen interest in literature. He is passionate about recording modern UK history, specifically the untold lives of its citizens. He believes these lived experiences should be recorded and shared, just as he has done with BLACK.
Don John has been working in the field of Race and Diversity for over 40 years, which has included working for Southampton City Council for Race Equality. Don is the founder of Black History Month in Southampton. He is also co-author of the publication, ‘The Black History of Southampton 16th Century to 21st Century’, a significant reference book charting the presence of Black people in Southampton for over 500 years.
The exhibition at John Hansard Gallery (28 September – 5 November 2022) includes pages from the graphic novel, as well as original drawings by Anthony Smith. To accompany the show, artwork from BLACK will be made into billboards across Southampton: Shirley High Street, from 26 September to 6 November, Millbrook Road, from 29 September to 9 October, Bevois Valley Road, from 10 October to 6 November 2022.
The book of BLACK will be available to purchase at John Hansard Gallery and October Books.
Visit www.jhg.art for more information.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
John Hansard Gallery, 142-144 Above Bar Street, Southampton, United Kingdom
GBP 0.00