A series of screen-printed images of present day Jamaica titled ‘Stories From St. Thomas’, will be displayed on billboards across Hackney from 17 June, showcasing the work of Hackney-based Windrush descendant Wayne Snooze, the first recipient of the new Windrush Amplified Art grant.
Drawing from the artist’s background as a child of Jamaican immigrants who arrived in the UK during the Windrush era, the images are inspired by the hand-drawn signs used in Jamaican shops and businesses, and incorporate the same traditional screen printing techniques.
The £3000 Windrush Amplified Art grant, open to photographers, artists, poets, writers, art collectives, schools and community groups, was launched as part of Hackney’s 2024 Windrush microgrants programme, which funds events and activities for this year’s Windrush Generations Festival: Past. Present, Future, and aims to support and elevate the artistic talents of Hackney’s Windrush generations.
The artwork was selected by the Council’s Culture team alongside renowned visual artist Dr Pogus Caesar who was delighted with the “refreshing” submission from Wayne Snooze. Caesar, remarked on Wayne’s work being “extremely original in the use of traditional methods which is rare these days. A new head with old thoughts that screams heritage in a silent way”.
The images will be on display until the end of June on Chapman Road, Dalston Lane and Kingsland Road, on public billboard spaces in collaboration with partners Build Hollywood, as well as on Love Hackney.
As part of the project, Wayne Snooze will also lead a screen printing workshop ‘Island to Island’ to explore connections of the Islands of the Caribbean and how those from the diaspora have flourished here for select community groups.
