In Conversation: Ayo Akingbade and Matthew Barrington

Join us for a Thursday Late with Ayo Akingbade, the artist behind our current exhibition Show Me The World Mister, in conversation with Matthew Barrington.

Show Me The World Mister is a solo exhibition by Ayo Akingbade comprising of two new film commissions. Shot on location in Nigeria, The Fist and Faluyi are Akingbade’s most ambitious productions to date, building upon her continued interest in history, place-making, legacy and power.

Ayo Akingbade is an artist, writer and director. She works predominantly with film and installation to address themes of power, urbanism and stance.

Her films have been shown at Cannes Film Festival, Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival, MoMA Doc Fortnight and International Short Film Festival Oberhausen among others. Akingbade was shortlisted for Jarman Award in 2023 and is a recipient of the Kleinwort Hambros Emerging Artist Prize, Brewers Award and Loewe Foundation X Studio Voltaire Award.

Dr. Matthew Barrington is a film curator and researcher based in London. He earned his PhD from Birkbeck, University of London and holds an MA and BA from Kingston University London. Matthew teaches at Birkbeck and has led courses at UCL, Queen Mary's, and the London College of Communication. He curates films for the Barbican Centre and the Birkbeck Institute for the Moving Image, and has worked with the EssayFilm Festival and the London Korean Film Festival. His writings, featured in publications like Sight and Sound, ASAP Journal and Afterall, cover a range of topics from film reviews to festival reports.

Doors will open at 6pm, with the event starting at 6:30pm. A cashless bar will be available, and the Whitworth Cafe and Shop will both be open during the day and evening.

About the venue

The Whitworth is a venue with level access throughout, and facilities to support you during your visit. Alongside this our visitor team will be on hand to assist you in the gallery. Find out more about planning your visit to the Whitworth and accessibility information for you.

If you’d like to speak to a team member about any access or additional needs, please get in touch with the gallery and we will be happy to assist you. Email [email protected] or telephone 0161 275 7450.

The Whitworth

The Whitworth art gallery and gardens is driven by a mission to work with communities to use art for positive social change, and actively addresses what matters most in people’s lives. We are proudly part of The University of Manchester, operating as a convening space between the University and the people of the city.

Image: Show Me The World Mister by Ayo Akingbade is produced by Chisenhale Gallery, London and Spike Island, Bristol. Commissioned by Chisenhale Gallery, London; Spike Island, Bristol; the Whitworth, The University of Manchester; BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead; and John Hansard Gallery, Southampton.

Host or Publisher The Whitworth