Shiiku Fest - 02/10/21 @ Propyard
Posted on: 2021-10-25
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Bristol's artistic scene takes the centre stage at Shiiku Fest
Bristol is known for its artistic scene, and recently collectives; such as Shiiku Collective, founders of ‘Shiiku Fest’; have been striving to shine a light on this.
The one-day festival featured artwork, spoken word poetry and live music, as well as vendors selling items such as clothing and even a tooth gem service. Propyard was the ideal venue to reflect on the collective’s independent ethos, and it truly felt like a festival despite the size.
Shiiku have put on events before but on a lesser scale, so it was exciting to see the success of their first larger event. The festival also offered workshops, allowing attendees to participate in a variety of activities during the day.
The event attracted a wide range of people, all socialising and bonding over their shared interest in the exhibits. It was great to see such a diverse range of subcultures taking an interest in the festival.
As artists and musicians exhibited their abilities, groups of skateboarders and roller skaters took turns on the cleared space in the warehouse.
The curation worked well, particularly in terms of artwork placement, and it seemed extremely unified and genuine to the Bristol-based artists that contributed.
Although I wish the creators were more easily identifiable, the pieces worked well with the layout - creating the impression of a showroom. The exhibition area was divided into sections, each of which felt like a different location, resulting in a successful interactive experience.
The live music, which ranged from acoustic to electronic, generated a lot of buzz, and an open mic encouraged the attendees to get involved. The spoken word was inviting, attracting a crowd in the comfortable seating area. The general atmosphere was really warm and laidback, which was perfect for the festival and content.
Iman Sultan West, the collective’s founder, said the following about Shiiku:
“Shiiku is a collection of creatives that transform abandoned sites into guerilla art spaces. Having previously taken over places such as the gated space on Cherry Lane in Stokes Croft (before the council took it back) and the area of Redland Keys (before it was bulldozed into a roller disco a few days later).
"Seeming to be paving the way for the council’s new and exciting consumerist endeavours, Shiiku integrates film, animation, painting, print, spoken word, live music, dance and many more forms of creative expression. An important part of Shiiku is engaging with marginalised groups in Bristol and creating a safe space for people in the community to get involved with, we will always work harder to achieve this.
"With the recent success of Shiiku Fest, a day festival at Propyard on Feeder Road, Shiiku is looking to work with other venues around the area to house this plethora of creatives! Keep an eye out for future indoor and outdoor events coming your way!"
Shiiku is a collective that, in my opinion, really represents the essence of Bristol creatives, and it is exciting to think of what is to come next.
To keep up to date with their upcoming events you can follow them on instagram at @shiiku._.
Images: Nellie Fratelli (nellie@365bristol.com)
Article by:
Nellie is a photography graduate and visual artist who aims to capture the human condition through her documentary and editorial work. Inspired by punk ideology and subculture, she aspires to shine a positive and celebratory light on individuality and self expression. Alongside this, she enjoys fashion, live music in the Bristol scene and connecting with others. Instagram @nelliefratelli or email nellie@365bristol.com.
