“Okan Archives”, a website developed by researcher and body artist Deise de Brito, is a platform that brings together documents on black performing arts artists, as well as their productions from different regions, based on the relationships between body, memory, ancestry and file. The initiative is the result of a journey of experiences, passions and moments of self-discovery by the creator herself.
“It all started 15 years ago, when I immersed myself in the universe of archives and began to cultivate a passion for documentary research. This flame continued to grow and transform over time, fueled by an increasingly courageous Deise in expressing his emotions through dance, performance and construction of narratives that transcend the limits imposed by society”.
“Okan Files” is divided into 6 different “modules”. In “Paths of Appreciation” the aim is to be an invitation for people to connect with experiences, encounters, performances and stage works based on texts produced by different researchers and artists. Under the “Okan Writings” tab, the idea is to share written productions that play between fiction and biographical details about black artists and/or live performing arts groups, who mobilize perceptions with their poetic shifts.
The “Places” session presents audiovisual recordings, in different territories and regions, on the path towards the perspective that places not only tell stories, but also (re)create memories. In “Strade” there are links to works (articles, dissertations, essays, etc.) of the author of the project (Deise de Brito). This part includes the approaches to blacks in the performing arts, now disappeared, such as Grande Otelo (1915-1993) and Josephine Baker (1906-1975), who have nourished the paths of contemporary generations and who have nourished and helped them to mature continuously the idea of the “Okan Archives”.
The “Núcleo Vênus Negra”, a group founded in 2014, is integrated into the Okan Archives with the aim of creating and sharing their artistic projects, as well as making themselves available for partnerships who wish to receive training, tutoring, consultancy, artistic support, provocations, conferences and the like in the field of relationships between body, ancestry, memory and archive. In the “Readers” topic, you can leave your report on how you received the records, readings, or how your visit to the website was. You can identify testimonial messages from other visitors.
“The Okan Archive is more than a project, it is a journey of affection and celebration of Black artists in the performing arts. It is a crossroads space to recognize and honor professionals who have different desires, intentions, journeys and narratives. And this journey is only at the beginning”, concludes the founder.
To find out more, visit: https://www.arquivosdeokan.com.br/
Source: Terra
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