A Walk in the Park

A Walk in the Park is a podcast series from the Whitworth’s Cultural Park Keeper, Francine Hayfron. Each episode takes a look at what is happening inside and out at the Whitworth. In this latest episode of the podcast we continue the discussions raised by the Black Lives Matter movement, and meet and chat with the artist Anya Paintsil.

Anya Paintsil is a Manchester based artist, of Welsh and Ghanaian heritage, who works primarily with textiles. From rug hooking to embroidery, Anya Paintsil assemblages evoke tactile tapestry on the one hand, and constitute semi-sculptural interventions on the other. Frequently using weaves, braids and other hair pieces (as well as her own hair), Paintsil laces debates around race and gender into the very fabric of her work. Playful and profound, flippant and forceful, her practice engages the language of fibres – of all kinds – with interrogations of materiality and political personhood.

Anya Paintsil’s powerful and striking work looks at themes of race and identity and so the Whitworth’s Cultural Park Keeper, Francine Hayfron caught up with Anya over Zoom, to find out more.

Latest podcast episode 5: https://www.mixcloud.com/TheWhitworth/a-walk-in-the-park-episode-5/

Find out more about artist Anya Paintsil here: https://www.edcrossfineart.com/artists/44-anya-paintsil/overview/

Follow Anya Paintsil on Instagram to see her latest works: https://www.instagram.com/anyapaintsil/