Reggae Kinda Sweet

Join Birmingham-based artist Pogus Caesar for Reggae Kinda Sweet, a free creative workshop exploring how the music of Jamaica has changed and renewed itself over the decades.

Specially curated from the OOM Gallery Archive, the workshop journeys through Caesar’s iconic portraits of legendary Reggae artists from Big Youth to Burning Spear and Bob Marley’s favourite singer, Dennis Brown.

Participants are invited to create their own LP cover, track list and lyrics, responding to the interwoven themes of love, war and healing as ever-present in both Reggae and Caesar’s photographs.

“From the outside, bubbling up from the underground, the music voiced demands for recognition. On the inside, the dubby, sinuous sounds of this bass culture nurtured a rebel mentality and celebrated love: militant and romantic, sexual and communal. Pogus Caesar’s archive directs renewed attention to that history. A sequence of eventful moments is frozen. Our stars, our legends and our determinedly unknown are glimpsed on stage and off, by day and night. In motion and in action. Their militant activity pushes restlessly onwards, making spaces of healing and finding answers to suffering.” Paul Gilroy, Author and Historian

Pogus Caesar’s photographic series Schwarz Flaneur (1983- ongoing) is on display as part of Ikon’s current exhibition Friends in Love and War – L’Éloge des meilleur·es ennemi·es. This exhibition is supported by the British Council and is presented as part of UK/France Spotlight on Culture 2024 Together We Imagine, with additional support from Fluxus Art Projects and Birmingham City University.

About the artist

Dr Pogus Caesar is a photographer, curator, film maker and conceptual artist utilising multiple media. He was born in St Kitts, West Indies, and grew up in Birmingham, England. Selected exhibitions include: Victoria & Albert Museum, London; TATE Britain; Art Gallery of Ontario Canada; ICA London; UNIT London; Graves Gallery, Sheffield; Ikon Gallery, Birmingham; macLYON France; National Gallery of Art, Washington, USA; National Portrait Gallery, London; Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery.