Still We Rise international installations ponder what equality means at York Mediale

Prompted by Maya Angelou’s 1978 poem of that title, highlighting the importance of re-igniting one’s self-worth and power to combat oppression, it brings together Ulungile Magubane, from South Africa, Brandon Covington Sam-Sumana, from Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA, and Neo Sinoxolo Musangi, from Kenya.

Each was selected for York Mediale from an open call supported by the British Council as “a chance to witness international, femme and non-binary media artists”.

Ulungile Magubane’s eMBIZENI has taken over The Project Room, to the left as you enter York Art Gallery, as Johannesburg musician and installation artist “Lu” turns it into a Jo’Burg street where illegal traders sell cigarettes and sweets, anything to make a living.

“I’d had this idea for a while because installation work is quite new in South Africa, and I was very surprised and delighted to be chosen for York Mediale,” says Lu, who studies at Wits University in Johannesburg.

Neo Sinoxolo Musangi’s The Way Of The Cross at St Martin-cum-Gregory, Micklegate, for York Mediale. Picture: Charlotte Graham

“I’m a musician and interdisciplinary artist and my aim was to present an audiovisual music project with four songs about my home city, the socio-economic patterns I observe and the love-hate relationship that I and many others have with a city of hyper-capitalism, hyper- consumption and extreme inequalities, where everyone is trying to make their dream come true - but it’s also about finding and re-connecting with spirituality in post-apartheid South Africa.”

Brandon Covington Sam-Sumana’s installation, Fayetteville, and Neo Sinoxolo Musangi’s The Way Of The Cross are on show at St Martin-cum Gregory Church in Micklegate. Brandon was working on his piece when Hurricane Florence struck North Carolina. “I was in a shelter for five days, and this hurricane was like a slow-burn,” says Brandon, who had to forego some photography for Fayetteville, a work that combines pulp ebook book covers with a sound piece and video.

You may have seen Neo Sinoxolo Musangi dressed in robes carrying a cross through York city centre to film the video part of The Way Of The Cross, but then again we are used to such sights with the York Mystery Plays’ wagons having rolled through York last month.

“I didn’t know my installation was going to be in an old church but it’s very exciting for me because it’s the perfect way to frame my work,” says Neo.

“The Way of the Cross is a very Catholic thing in Kenya, where it’s done every Easter, re-enacting Christ’s journey. I’m still a good Christian, but I’m also non-binary, which is illegal in Kenya, as is homosexuality: you can be sent to prison for 14 years for being homosexual. My life is difficult; life, straight or queer, is difficult, and it’s becoming more difficult to navigate in public spaces, where ‘public violence’ is supported legally.”

Still We Rise runs until tomorrow (Saturday); admission is free.