history

1989 two artists share the same vision

As individual artists Ali Zaidi and Keith Khan had already enthralled audiences and curators with their inventive practice.

Zaidi is Indian by birth, Pakistani by migration and British by chance. His background in graphic design, advertising and photography, as well as education, evolved into sumptuous expression of concepts rather than commercial products.

Khan is a British Trinidadian Indian who trained in sculpture and went onto to create spectacular, sublime, rough and refined works, bringing new media to the discipline.

Together, the two artists initiated creative processes that redefined collaborative practice. However, as a pair of creatives they needed to constantly seek venues, curators and organisations through which to raise production funds for new work to be made.

1996 motiroti - a brand new approach to cultural production

Sometimes existing administrative frameworks could not keep pace with Zaidi and Khan. Their constant innovation, cross media approaches, range of collaborators and use of unusual sites often challenged funders, curators and venues.

The two artists founded motiroti to provide themselves with a solid structure, supported by a board of directors and administrative staff, that could help them take their radical practice forward, making previously unimaginable possibilities a reality.

Assembling a board of directors brought expertise and insight to the table. Finance, digital media, film production, education, fundraising and charity expertise was added to the creative centre. This enabled motiroti to achieve a new kind of self-definition.

Both artists had in common their experience of varied production systems; Khan through carnival and design commissions, and Zaidi through marketing and education. This provided knowledge of collaborative practice, social and organisational structures. They transferred these insights into their creative exploits, and brought together a range of mixed skills and cultures.

Through this inclusive approach a huge range of culturally diverse voices spoke. South Asian, East Asian, African, Caribbean, Latin American, North American and native British creatives found themselves developing concepts with Zaidi and Khan. In this respect the very tenets of art production were overturned. Outcomes were as vibrant as they were unpredictable.

2004 a step into the new millennium

After over ten years of professional growth, development of new ideas and international awards, motiroti took a step into the new millennium with a big change. Keith Khan left the company and became Chief Executive of a new organisation, Rich Mix.

This was a moment to reflect strategically on motiroti's artistic policy and direction, and to think about new ways of taking forward the company's work.

Learning has always been important, and has played an important role in the company's artistic production. More recently the commitment to learning has been consolidated with the appointment of a Learning Director, and is becoming embedded in the very core of motiroti 's practice.

Artistic production and learning are part of the same process, which is achieved through the collaborative participation of artists, key cultural institutions, audiences, communities and organisations. The participating element is incorporated in the artistic process at the very beginning, and plays a crucial role in the way the works are presented. The result is multi-layered artworks in which the voices of individuals and institutions merge in surprising and often unexpected ways.

motiroti's work is generated through its engagement with people and the dynamic interaction of different cultures. The culmination of its work is often the platforming of intimate, personal stories in the public domain. Being local, national and international not only refers to the location where the projects are presented, but also to the multiple dimensions which inform a project.

motiroti continues its journey through imagination, innovation and socially engaged practice, pushing the boundaries of new technology.

Also visit biography for more information on motiroti's projects, awards and partners and policy for mission statement, artistic policy and aesthetic ethos.