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Pogus Caesar

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Pogus Caesar is a British artist, television producer and director. He was born in St Kitts, West Indies, and grew up in Birmingham, England.

History

A self taught artist who took up painting seriously in his early 20's, following a series of short term jobs. His early work was greatly influenced by French impressionist artist Georges-Pierre Seurat, one of the foremost exponents of the pointillist technique. Whilst Seurat built up his compositions from a multitude of tiny coloured spots, Caesar developed his own technique by using simple pens and ink; composing his paintings with thousands of tiny dots. This minutely detailed use of a fountain pen means that even the smaller works take several months to complete.

During the early 1980s Caesar became director of the West Midlands Ethnic Minority Arts Service, the organisation promoted multicultural arts regionally and nationally. Caesar was also the first Chairman of Birmingham International Film & Television Festival. He has also contributed to shows by black British artists including Into the Open (1984) and Caribbean Expressions in Britain (1986).

During the late 1980's Caesar started working in British television - originally as a journalist on Channel 4's "Black on Black" then as producer and director of entertainment, sport and multi cultural programmes for Central Television, Carlton Television and BBC. Radio programmes include "Mr & Mrs Smith" B.R.M.B Radio and "The Windrush E. Smith Show" BBC West Midlands. In 1993 he formed his own production company, Windrush Productions. His productions include I'm Black in Britain, Respect, Drumbeat and the award winning multicultural series Xpress.

As a photographer and artist Caesar has worked in Spain, India, South America and Sweden and Denmark. He has documented the artists, musicians, poets and politicians that he met and with whom he collaborated - including Stevie Wonder, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Paul Robeson Jr. These and other images acquired by Mappin Art Gallery Sheffield, Wolverhampton Art Gallery and Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery represent important visual documents recording key figures in black British history.

Selected exhibitions include:

"Instamatic Views of New York" National Museum of Film and Photography, Bradford 1986,

"Into The Open" Mappin Art Gallery, Sheffield 1984, (As Curator)

"Caribbean Expressions In Britain" The Leicestershire Museum and Art Gallery 1986 Central Museum and Art Gallery, Northampton 1986 Cartwright Hall, Bradford 1987 (As Curator)

"Break in the Seal" Herbert Art Gallery, Coventry 1988,

"Sharp Voices, Still Lives" Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery 1990

"Vibes: The Roots of Urban Music" Herbert Art Gallery, Coventry 2004 / Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery 2005

"Burning Images - Revolution Through The Lens" The Drum, Birmingham 2005

"Handsworth Riots - Twenty Summers On" OOM Gallery / BBC Mailbox Birmingham 2005

"Muzik Kinda Sweet - Photographs of Legendary Black Musicans" OOM Gallery Birmingham 2005.

Throughout the years Pogus Caesar has provided support and development for a host of educational and cultural initiatives throughout Birmingham City and The Midlands regions.

Caesar's photographs and extensive archives documenting Birmingham Black History is held in Birmingham Central Library Archives. He has exhibited widely, his work held in public and private collections in Britain, Europe and USA. OOM Gallery a Birmingham based gallery represents Caesar's work worldwide. Their archives include Caesar's extensive photographic record of the Handsworth riots of 1985 and the redevelopment of the Birmingham Bull Ring 2000 - 2003. OOM Gallery also showcases limited edition photomontages, films and organises contemporary exhibitions.

Television

As presenter

  • Here & Now (Central 1985-1989)
  • I'm Black In Britain (Central Television 1993) - also producer. 30 min documentary investigating racism in Britain.

As series editor

  • Drumbeat (Carlton Television 1999) - also Series Editor. 6 x 60 min entertainment / current affairs series

As journalist

As director

  • One World (Central Television 1990)

As producer / director

Selected films

As director / producer

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