Genome Chronicles screening and discussion

As part of the Donald Rodney exhibition at Celine, the gallery hosted a screening of The Genome Chronicles by John Akomfrah. Made in 2009, the film reflects on the passing, within the space of a few days, of Akomfrah's mother and his close friend, Donald Rodney.

The Genome Chronicles includes Super 8 footage shot by Rodney initially documenting his regular hospital visits but eventually expanding to document friendships, gallery openings and his relationship with his partner Diane Symons. Akomfrah combines Rodney's filmed observations with his own footage shot over a ten-year period on the Scottish islands of Skye and Mull with music varying from Tibetan chants to post-punk noise pieces creating a 'song cycle' in ten parts that reflects on memory and identity, memorial and remembrance.

Following the screening was a live in-conversation event with artists Keith Piper, Alberta Whittle and Mike Philips, facilitated by curator Ian Sergeant and Adam Lewis Jacob.