Filmmaker Peter Spanjer's Search for Vulnerability and Moments of Truth in His Work

Peter Spanjer is a Nigerian visual artist, born and raised in Germany and currently living and working in London. Using immersive and mixed media that combine film and sound, Peter’s work addresses the soft, vulnerable and complex nature of Black life and the Black body within the space it occupies. He is currently showing pieces of work at his debut solo show at Kristin Hjellegjerde gallery in London. 

The purpose of Peter’s piece “Make Me Safe” completely shifted after the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. The original sound clips were created to serve as an emotional release, which was then followed by the collection of footage. Peter combined all of these elements to create a piece of work that was not reflective of a detailed plan, but of a need to convey truth.  

In this latest edition of our video interview series Long Story Short, Peter talks to us about finding new creative outlets, the marriage of sound and visuals, and the idea of capturing moments.

For more about the work Peter discusses in his video, please visit these links:

• WaterBlood-n-Bones
• Make Me Safe
• good kid, m.A.A.d city [Kahlil Joseph]

Video edit by Carly Angeloni.