Book Launch – Osman Yousefzada: The Go-Between

Artist Osman Yousefzada, who grew up in Balsall Heath, launches his memoir in collaboration with the IKON Gallery with this ‘in-conversation’ with Sara Wajid MBE, Co-CEO of Birmingham Museums Trust. Attend in person, or view the conversation live on YouTube.

Friday 28th January at 6pm

Free, suggested donation £5
Booking for in-person launch essential

Multidisciplinary artist Osman Yousefzada discusses his memoir, The Go-Between (2022), with Sara Wajid MBE, Co-CEO, Birmingham Museums Trust.

Set in Birmingham in the 1980s and 1990s, Osman opens a window into a closed migrant community living in a red-light district. The adult world is seen through Osman’s eyes as a child: his own devout Pakistani/Afghan Pashtun community, with its divide between the world of men and women, living cheek-by-jowl with parallel migrant communities. Children balance Western school teachings with cultural traditions. Alternative masculinities compete with strict gender roles, and female erasure and honour-based violence are committed, even as empowering female friendships prevail.

This in-person event includes a book signing. Pre-order book from Ikon Shop.

Ikon presented Osman’s first solo exhibition, Being Somewhere Else, in 2018 and most recently worked with him to present Infinity Pattern 1, a new large-scale installation which covers the entire Selfridges Birmingham building.