Rabz Lansiquot
I’m Rabz Lansiquot, a Brixton born and raised filmmaker, programmer, curator, and DJ, and one half of Languid Hands. As a film programmer, I’m interested in the development of a practice that goes beyond representation and towards a radical liberatory approach to Black filmmaking so I focus mainly on programming and writing about experimental, political works by Black filmmakers. My own filmmaking practice utilises archive footage in a number of ways, both to illustrate the ideas I’m exploring, and to reflect on the politics of archives. I’ve made work about my families history of migration, the politics of the display of images of Black death and anti-black violence, Brixton’s own @198_cal (a gallery with over 30 years history exhibiting the work of Black and of colour artists) and, with Languid Hands, the (im)possibility of Black Testimony.
The clip here is my favourite section of an old film I made while studying in collaboration with peers about the gentrification of Brixton. It features rapper, friend, play-uncle and unofficial Mayor of Brixton Ty, who we are still collectively grieving following his untimely passing this year, talking so beautifully about growing up in the area. I decided to illustrate his interview with footage of the area by Sam The Wheels, filmmaker, archivist and bike repair man, who has been documenting the Black community of Brixton since the 1960’s.
Photo by Tarona Leonara, courtesy of Stroom Den Haag.