Creative Networks x LEEDS 2023 introduce Keith Khan

Creative Networks x LEEDS 2023: Keith Khan

Creative Networks is Leeds Arts University’s major professional events programme with talks from high-profile speakers from across the creative industries who entertain, challenge, and inspire.

Join us as Creative Networks and LEEDS 2023 welcome Keith Khan, to chat about his work, his background, insight into his career journey and the progress of his work with LEEDS 2023.

About Keith Khan

Keith Khan makes performances, animation film, drawing, and textiles. Born in London, of Indo-Caribbean heritage, his career began designing carnivals in Trinidad and the UK. He links his layered identities’: from his families’ movements within the colonial indentured system; his ancestral links to India; being raised in diverse London; through to contemporary phenomenon relating to cultural confusion; resulting in projects highly personal projects, often presented in different locations and for an audience as diverse as himself.

His practice within drawings and animations are based on working with universal themes, and feature a parred down symbols and ciphers drawn from the world around us, in an eclectic way. Elements are derived from emojis, and pop culture and Chittara (Karnataka) and Taino (Caribbean) art are meshed together to create fresh images that are sometimes animated, to embody a personality. He juxtaposes sophisticated two-dimensional structures, in three-dimensional space. The work is normally presented in a limited or reduced palette. The latest pieces are shamanic, with vibrating gods and goddesses bristling with spirituality and life.

Early work was presented in galleries and theatres with deep community links. Many communities, especially diverse ones lack visibility. The community and open-making systems have helped Keith lead with diversity and education in his senior management roles. Keith has worked with many different organisations, from The Palace to being the Head of Culture of the 2012 London Olympic Games.

New commissions include a show at the Dhan Mill in Delhi in 2021, and a show for the Manchester International Festival, based on Chinese and Indian data. Keith Khan´s archive of drawings, documents and objects was acquired by London´s Victoria and Albert Museum in 2014.

As part of My LEEDS 2023, a major community-led LEEDS 2023 project, Keith Khan is working closely with communities across Leeds to develop unique artworks for all 33 wards.

This event is being held on Zoom.

Sign up and you will receive joining instructions. If you have any issues, please contact careers@leeds-art.ac.uk