Somatic Grounding Practice
Ayebainemi Abieyuwa Ése (they/them) is a Nigerian, non-binary artist, writer and somatic practitioner born and raised in Plaistow, Newham. They facilitate trauma-conscious grief, movement, and rest portals for QTBIPOC+ communities. They explore somatic practices such as yoga, art-making and embodied movement to cultivate curiosity and awareness about the stories our bodies hold, honouring our innate ancestral wisdom. They cherish nature, playfulness, creativity, dancing, and experimentation.
The Speculative ReMemory project was led by artist and programme facilitator, Sandra Falase, as part of a year-long engagement programme in 2024 at Alice Billing House, supported by the Creative Land Trust and Heritage Lottery Fund.
In 2024, artist, writer and somatic practitioner, Ayebainemi Abieyuwa Ésewas was invited to create and facilitate a creative lab in the project space at Alice Billing House as an experimental incubator to explore the themes of Speculative ReMemory.
The intersecting experiences of QTBIPOC+ lived experience is integral to Ayebainemi’s practice, and within their practice they look at the ways marginalised identities are further displaced from the homes they grew up in either through estrangement or leaving home to live more authentically in their bodies and identities.
Their work focuses on carving out a space to grieve the loss of these community/familial bonds whilst offering tools of connection to seek out your own tribe and chosen family.
When unearthing memories that can at times be difficult to digest, it’s important to hold space for listeners and contributors and do a body scan to check in with themselves, Ayebainemi’s somatic meditation offers a way to ground themselves and allow listeners to come back into the present moment.