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Too Young for What?

Celebrate the creativity of Jean-Michel Basquiat

Photo of Basquiat flyer for Too Young For What

Join us for an innovative programme of free events, installations and special performances and celebrate the creativity of Jean-Michel Basquiat

Too Young for What? provides opportunities to develop young people’s creativity and showcases a range of new work with and by young people from across east London and beyond. The day explores what Basquiat and his practice means to young and emerging artists through a range of art forms including music, performance, street art and poetry.

Highlights include a talks programme SAMO©, but different and ‘Make a Scene’ discussions co-curated by Poet in the City, opportunities to explore zinemaking, glitch art and photography and Basquiat inspired work by Barbican Guildhall Creative Learning’s community of young creatives, including the Barbican Young Poets, Young Programmers and Young Visual Arts Group.

Young Barbican members can pre-book entry to our major art exhibition 
Basquiat: Boom for Real for just £5 (usually £16).

This is a free event with drop in performances and activities.

 

On the Freestage

2–6pm SAMO©, but Different
Co-curated with Poet in the City, listen to talks and performances delving into the interdisciplinary creative scene Basquiat was a part of. Each session will focus on one of the following themes, Legacy, Mythology, Text and Music.

6pm Basquiat Hack
See what young creatives from our Barbican Guildhall Creative Learning programmes produce after a two day marathon cross arts hack. 

6.30pm Poetic Chronicles
Hear Keisha Thompson and Belinda Zhawi's Poetic Chronicles inspired by the day’s debates and discussions. 

Foyers & Fountain Room

12noon–6pm

Zine making with Holly Casio and Megan Pickering

Use newspapers, magazines, comics and other printed materials to cut, copy, paste and create their own DIY publication exploring identity, self-expression and performance.  

Behind the Scene with Slashstroke Magazine

Slashstroke studio will create a fully immersive 3D space that allows participants to produce their own dynamic/abstracted photographic portraits. Take the picture, direct the scene, be in the image, create the message. 

1.00–3pm

Binary Graffiti Club Workshop 

Binary Graffiti Club invite you to think about your future and the future of politics, in a workshop where participants will come up with their own manifesto by actively exploring your roles in the world. Inspired by the work of artist Stanza, participants will be invited to join the project on the foyers and spray and stencil their work within an installation.

Participants must be over 16. To book your place, please email [email protected] with the subject: Binary Graffiti. 

3–6pm

Roundtable discussion hosted by Jacob Sam-La Rose, curated by Poet in the City

Cultural appropriation or cultural appreciation? Where is the line? Basquiat trod the line of appropriation, layering his ideas over others to redefine meaning and rewrite stories. Join us as we investigate the meaning of cultural appropriation and if it can ever be a good thing… 

You can book a spot at the table to contribute to the discussion here.

 

Belinda Zhawi will be taking poetic-chronicles throughout these sessions, transforming the discussions into a performance piece shared on the SAMO©, but Different stage.
 

Belinda Zhawi is a Zimbabwean born writer, educator & resident of London. She’s co-founder & host of the bi-monthly poetry social, BORN::FREE. Belinda was the 2016/17 Institute of Contemporary Arts Associate Poet. She’s currently working on her debut pamphlet collection. .

Holly Casio is a zine maker, writer and workshop facilitator – she uses collage, text and illustrations to create zines and comix relating to mental health, queer identity, and pop culture. 

Megan Pickering is an artist who explores intersectional feminism, queerness and class. Megan uses zine making as a way of exploring personal politics in awkwardly honest ways. 
 

Barbican Foyers

Discover

photo of jean-michel basquiat with adidas and a sport helmet

Listen: Basquiat and Downtown on Spotify

Music had a big impact on Basquiat's art. Listen to a sample in our Basquiat playlist....