Inspired by the photo and video archives of their late father, Kayode Coker, multiple award-winning fashion and textile designer, illustrator and multidisciplinary artist, Tolu Coker and her brother, photographer and filmmaker, Ade Coker, present a film and discussion event.
The siblings will curate, through film and documentary, the stories of past and present key community members and residents through a raw, unfiltered, and unadulterated account of the music, political and carnival culture existent in the North Kensington social housing communities.
Their father, Kayode Coker was a social activist, photo-journalist and valued community member who grew up in Abeokuta and Lagos, Nigeria before residing in the North Kensington estates for over 30 years before his passing. The film draws on the perspectives of different generations to highlight how changing social landscapes have influenced new notions of identity.
The film screening will be followed by a 30 minute talk and Q+A with Tolu Coker.
About Tolu Coker
Since graduating in 2017 from Central Saint Martins University with first-class honours in BA Fashion Design with Print, Tolu Coker’s work has amassed extensive media attention and won several awards in addition to being picked up by teams/stylists on behalf of artists, some of which include Rihanna, Rita Ora, Emeli Sande, Steff London, Burna Boy, Tiwa Savage, Missy Elliot, Mr Eazi, Zebra Katz, Olly/Years and Years, The Gorillaz and Grace Jones. The past year has been particularly rewarding; as well as being a finalist and winner of multiple international awards across fashion, textiles and art categories, Tolu presented her debut London Fashion Week show winning Fashion Scout’s AW19 Merit Award. She undertook a 3-month artistic residency in Shanghai, and worked on features and commissions by brands and outlets including Vogue, Vice, American Express, Diesel, Illy Caffe and Swatch.
Last year she was selected to exhibit in Nigeria at the Lagos Biennial. ‘Masqueraded Memoirs’, a collaboration with Ade Coker, focused specifically on Nigerian Diaspora identity, and was developed over the past few years. The body of work spanned across four generations, and included a film, photo series, fashion collection and wall-sized tapestry mural featuring printed, woven and embroidered portraits from waste material.
Tolu received a Westway Trust Training and Professional Development Grant towards the costs of her attending the Lagos Biennal.
Find out more
Follow Tolu on her Instagram
Follow Ade on his Instagram
Bay20
71 St Marks Road,
London W10 6JG
020 3579 0384
Nearest Transport
Nearest tube: Ladbroke Grove Station (4-minute walk, 0.2 miles) Circle, Hammersmith & City Lines
Nearest train station: Paddington Station (40-minute walk, 1.7 miles). Step-free station.
Bus routes: 7, 23, 52, 70, 228, 452
Nearest stop: Ladbroke Grove Station