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Welsh creatives explore contemporary art at the iconic Manchester International Festival 2023

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From the immersive dreamworld of Yayoi Kusama, the dark movements of Sharon Eyal, to the thrilling imagination of Benji Reid and the satirical humour of Kimber Lee, we saw it all at Manchester International Festival. Along with five Welsh creatives, we headed up north from 12 July to 16 July to experience contemporary art, music and unlimited creativity at one of the world’s biggest art festivals.

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The New Wave – Capsule Collection

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Nike and Patta join forces to continue their Wave series, this time releasing a capsule centring the Nike Air Max 90. Presented alongside Baloji-directed music video featuring Odumodu Blvck, BNYX and BXKS.

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View full video snippets on our Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DMNNG6Fo_BN/

https://www.instagram.com/p/DMsFwKxo6C9/?img_index=1

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Credits:
Dancer Casting: @jukeboxcollectiveagency @liarabarussi
Director: @baloji
Producer: @gtelfs
Production Company: @prettybirdpic @fsbamford @chanellyonthetelly
Talent: @odumodublvck, @bxksintokyo, @bnyx
Dancer: @coridlionne
Stylist: @tirinoyspol @neeshatulsichampaneria
DOP: @juramirezh
MUA: @mayamanartist
Hair Stylist: @kreszendsackey
Casting Director: @jinjo.me
Sound Design: @bankeyojo
Air Max Set Design: @fernvdg @geesseghers
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‘Of Us’ is a short film by Jukebox Collective that explores dance through the sacred symbolism of water, honouring the Welsh Black experience. The film is accompanied by Omi, a soundscape by Felix Taylor and Melo-Zed.

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The screening was followed by a discussion led by Halina Kaszycka-Williams (British Library) with our Film & Movement Director Liara Barussi, composers Melo-Zed and Felix Taylor, and lead cast member Gui Pinto.

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Credits:

Panelist: Halina Kaszycka-Williams @halkaline from the British Library
Screening Photography: Hannah Tottle @hannahtottlephoto
Lead Cast: Gui Pinto @galoreist, Venice & Monet Williams @venice_monet_twins

Creative & Crew:
Director & Choreographer: Liara Barussi @liarabarussi
Composers: Melo-Zed @melozed, Felix Taylor @__felixtaylor
Videographer: Nathan O’Kelly @nathanokelly
Photographer: Joe Andrews @joeandrewsz
Colourist: Sharon Chung @ikohchung
Editor: Pawel Achtelik @pawel_achtelik
Styling: Lauren Anne Groves @lgrovesss
Styling Assistant: Maisie Edwards @maisiemedwards
@eliza_goldsmith
Producer: Lauren Naomi @laurenaomi__
Creative Consultant: @leymanlahcine
Movement Assistants: Darnell Williams @dflexofficial, Naomi Ferne @naomiferne, Patrik Gabco @officialmrpocket, Millie Scarlett @mi11iecampion
Post Production: Avenues Studio @avenues.studio
Runners: Tarina Tajul @tarina_tajul, Samandal @samandollar, Elina Lee @elinaleee, Genaya Parris @genayaparris, Angelina Rodriques @angelinarodriques
Hosting: Lane Locations @lane_locations
Soundscape: Touching Bass @touching_bass

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The World Exposition (EXPO) is a global event held every five years, showcasing innovations in technology and culture, aiming to inspire deeper cultural collaboration. For Wales Day in Japan, Jukebox Collective collaborated with contemporary hand weaver Llio James, who created blankets inspired by both Welsh and Japanese traditions.

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Through artistic and movement direction by Jukebox’s Director Liara Barussi, the designs were brought to life on film, blending heritage, craft, and dance into a playful love story told through unspoken moments of connection.

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Credits:

Creative & Movement Director: Liara Barussi @liarabarussi
DOP: Lewys R. Mann @lewysrmann @triggerhappycreative
Talent: Kate Morris @katemorange, Jodelle Douglas @jodelledouglas
Music: @adjuasings_
Handwoven Blankets by Llio James @lliojames
Commissioned by Wales Arts International, Visit Wales & Welsh Government

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Jukebox Collective presented performance Of Us at international arts venue Bozar in Belgium, as part of their annual Nocturne event; Bozar All Over the P(a)lace. The evening also brought together other multidisciplinary creative collectives from across Europe and beyond, showcasing performances, music, and films.

The performance supported the opening of When We See Us: A Century of Black Figuration in Painting, curated by Koyo Kouoh, one of the art world’s most influential figures.

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The event was curated by Brussels-based Afrocentric collective Som·m·e Of Us, themed around the resilience, essence, and political charge of Black joy. It included a screening of our short film Of Us, which explores migration, identity, and the ancestral ties between body, memory, and water.

Performed live in Brussels and directed by Liara Barussi, the piece featured emerging talent from Jukebox Academy, set to the soundscape Omi by Felix Taylor & Melo-Zed.

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Starring Gui Pinto, Teaghan Scanlon, Elizabeth Oredola, Akeylah Hinton, Karim Mohamed, Venice & Monet Williams from Jukebox Academy. Produced by Lauren Patterson, Movement Assistance by Darnell Williams, Tailoring by Spare Me, and BTS filming by Daniel Attoh. Partnerships and performance supported by Wales Arts International.

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Event Curation:
@somme.of.us
Performances:
@Felispeaks | @Timiss.be | @Dikaay | @illiWILD | @Magdelaaine
When We See Us:
Curated by Koyo Kouoh
Film Screening & Music:
@OKRAcollective | @AkwasiGlenn | @KA_RABA
Of Us – Live Performance
A Jukebox Collective Production (@jukeboxcollectiveagency)
Creative & Movement Direction: Liara Barussi (@liarabarussi)
Sound Design (Omi): Felix Taylor (@__felixtaylor) & Melo-Zed (@melozed)
Styling: Jukebox Collective (@liarabarussi)
Movement Assistant: Darnell Williams (@dflexofficial)
Designer: @leymanlahcine
Tailoring: @spareme_official
BTS Filming: @danielattoh_
Starring Jukebox Academy:
Gui Pinto (@galoreist) | Venice Williams | Monet Williams (@venice_monet_twins) |
Teaghan Scanlon (@teaghan_scanlon_) | Karim Mohamed (@kaarimmo_) | Elizabeth Oredola (@elizabeth_oredola_) | Akeylah Hinton (@akeylahhintonx)
Special Thanks:
@waicymruwales | @bozarbrussels | @paulbriottet | @olgabriard
Original Commission:
British Library | @leemagray | @halkaline
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In partnership with creative street advertising specialists BUILDHOLLYWOOD for St David’s Day 2025, we developed an outdoor campaign that reimagined Welsh traditions. Together with photography-based studio Bleak Fabulous, we took over 51 sites across Cardiff & Swansea showcasing a series of editorial images featuring Jukebox Academy.

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The collaboration, inspired by the iconic Welsh hat, saw the students rework this traditional piece with guidance from Welsh costume designer Ffian Jones. The photographs transform elements of Welsh costume, celebrating heritage through a creative interpretation of tradition.

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Credits:

Collaborator: @bleakfabulous
Creative Director: Charlotte James @_charlottejames_
Photographer: Clémentine Schneidermann @clementine.schneidermann,
@buildhollywood

Sponsors: @paulhamlynfoundation, @museumwales, @celfcymruarts
Team: @liarabarussi, @laurenaomi__, @tarina_tajul, @samandollar, @dflexofficial,
@sharonitakostini, @tom_swindell_dop, @gracespringerphoto_, @dirbydafyddrees, @icecreamembroidery

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Of Us features in 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair Marrakech

154 Contemporary African Art Fair Marrakech presented special project We, Maji an immersive digital installation by Nataal. The installation featured a presentation of Jukebox Collective’s short film Of Us Directed by Liara Barussi, accompanied by soundscape Omi by Felix Taylor and Melo-zed. Launching the first international screening of the film. Presented at DaDa Marrakech between January 30 – February 2, 2025, alongside a programming of events, exhibitions and gatherings across the city celebrating contemporary African art.

Read more on our blog

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Jukebox Collective present their short film Of Us in first of its kind exhibition at the British Library.

British Library commission Jukebox Collective to create short film for the  Beyond the Bassline exhibition. As the Welsh partner, Of Us, shares an untold Welsh perspective into the exploration of 500 years of Black music in Britain.

Beyond the Bassline (April 26 – August 26, 2024) marks a historic moment as the first major exhibition to document the rich musical journey of African and Caribbean people in Britain. Through a display of sound archives, artefacts, performances, and multimedia presentations, the exhibition explores the people, spaces and genres that have transformed the landscape of British music, delving into the impact of Black British musicians, creatives and entrepreneurs on popular music since the 16th-century.

Presented in the exhibitions “interruption” spaces is Of Us (2024), a Jukebox Collective production, commissioned by the British Library. Directed and choreographed by Liara Barussi and filmed in South Wales, the film pays homage to the heritage of one of the UK’s oldest Black communities, based in Tiger Bay in Cardiff. Through dance and movement, it reflects on themes of migration, identity and the enduring ancestral connection between body and memory. 

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“Of Us journeys into the whispers of our seas, intertwining stories of migration with the universal symbolism of water. Echoing concepts of the Black Aquatic and Tidalectics, the film juxtaposes the fluid and fixed.” Says Artistic Director of Jukebox Collective, Liara Barussi. 

 

The short film will be showcased in the ocean space offering visitors an immersive visual and auditory experience. With a soundscape by South London-based curatorial platform Touching Bass and styling by Lauren Anne Groves with pieces from Black-owned brands including Ahluwalia and Jawara Alleyne. Featuring a cast of young Black Welsh talent from the organisation’s artist development programme. 


“We’re honoured to represent Wales in this historic exhibition, the film pays tribute to the often overlooked and underrepresented Black communities of Wales. Highlighting their heritage and culture, as it intersects with the wider narrative of Black British music” – Liara Barussi. 

Curated by Dr Aleema Gray in collaboration with Dr. Mykaell Riley, Beyond the Bassline promises to broaden audience’s understanding of Black British music and its position within British musical heritage.

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Of Us premiers on Nowness as part of In Motion

Directed by Liara Barussi. Produced by Jukebox Collective. Starring Jukebox Academy

Commissioned by Dr Aleema Gray, British Library for Beyond the Bassline, 500 years of Black British Music

Watch now on NOWNESS

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Connecting movement, migration stories and water symbolism in South Wales, Liara Barussi honors Tiger Bay as one of the UK’s oldest Black communities

Connecting ancestral legacies and the thread between body and memory, Liara Barussi directs and choreographs short film Of Us, honoring the legacy of the UK’s Black diaspora through movement. Commissioned by Dr Aleema Gray for the British Library, and produced by Jukebox Collective, the film pays homage to Tiger Bay in Cardiff, South Wales as one of the UK’s oldest Black communities, reflecting on the Atlantic Ocean and its place in the history of the Black diaspora.

“Of Us journeys into the whispers of our seas, intertwining stories of migration with the universal symbolism of water – an homage to the untold stories that lie beneath the surface of the waves, waiting to be heard and remembered. We wanted the dance to feel organic and narrative-driven, rather than choreographed.”

Shooting in South Wales, Barussi sought to mirror the rippling and expanding legacies connected to its coastline, working with a young cast reflecting the region’s diverse diaspora, all students from Jukebox Collective’s Academy Programme. Guiding the cast to reconnect with their ancestry, Barussi developed the choreography around dance traditions from communities with strong connections to water – from water drumming, or liquindi, performed by the Baka people of Cameroon, to the ocean-inspired movements of the Ekombi Dance among the Efik people in Calabar, Nigeria.

Translating stories through these movements, rooted in everyday life and the emotions and histories we inherit, Barussi constructs Of Us as a celebration of heritage and preserved traditions, grounded by the rugged beauty of Wales’ coastline, and the collective memory carried by the ocean beyond.

 

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On October 26, we hosted and curated the Future Creatives Link-up, connecting over 100 Welsh creatives and industry leaders across the emerging intersection of fashion, music and art in Wales. The event, which took place at Rhostio Café in Cardiff was hosted by Liara Barussi and Cherrelle (Coco) Tucker, sounds from DJ Dan Willow, and guest performances from music group Source. 

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The event was an opportunity to introduce the Future Creatives plans for 2024 and to open channels for creatives to reach out for collaboration and partnership. We facilitated networking activities by inviting creatives to join groups and answer postcards with questions they would like to ask each other.

Guests were greeted with arrival cocktails, designed for the event in collaboration with Rhostio, inspired by Cardiff, the Caribbean and West Africa. As well as authentic appetisers from Jamaican local street food pop-up, The Real Ting.

The event was curated and produced by Jukebox Collective, with funding support from Arts Council Wales and Vans. Local collaborators included Cherelle Tucker (TalktoCoco), Naomi Ferne, Pierre Gashagaza, Joe Andrews and Tom Swindel. 

 

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This event was delivered as a part of our Future Creatives project. The project began in 2021 through a community investigation into the experiences of young black and minority creatives’ in Wales, and has since grown into a highly collaborative and supportive network. The project highlighted a need for more inclusion of creatives in decision-making, community-led initiatives, and tangible long-term support for artists. In response, we have made a commitment towards curating events, and opportunities for this network in 2023. And launching a major event in collaboration with St Fagans museum in 2024.

 

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