Deck of Defiance

Creating  ‘Deck of Defiance’ — a handmade deck of cards with the theme of ‘resistance’ as inspiration.In workshops led by artist Exodus Croosk at The Gap Arts, participants were invited to use animals associated with resistance to create their deck.

The workshop responded to TURNING POINT: a Black heritage comedy melodrama which tells the story of four individuals in 1920s Barbados and Jamaica, and the documented folklore within the Afro-Carribbean diaspora to bring about new figures replacing the King, Queen and Jack in a standard set of playing cards.

Animals and insects such as mongooses, spiders, mosquitoes and snakes were the focus for this new Deck of Defiance, and participants discussed the resilience of these animals as well as their associations in folklore.

Using drawing and painting methods to make enlarged playing cards, participants discussed the themes in TURNING POINT to create a new deck together which embodied the themes of resilience, resistance, and defiance.

Made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to National Lottery players.