Ep. 48: The Bronx w/ Yayoi Kusama's works at New York Botanical Garden; Artist Tasha Dougé; Rapper Kemba; Food: Togo’s Bognan International & Italian Madonia Brothers Bakery

Dancing Pumpkin, NYBG, Robert Benson Photography

At the heart of The Bronx lies an unexpected urban oasis that is the New York Botanical Garden. Founded in 1891, the botanical garden is the largest in any US city. It encompasses fifty specialty gardens and collections comprising more than one million plants. A site for preserving and protecting nature, the botanical garden is part known for its exhibitions situated within the gardens.

Currently on view is Kusama: Cosmic Nature, an exploration of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama’s lifelong fascination with the natural world. Kusama - an artist who has been working for an astonishing 70 plus years - is famous for her giant installations with polka dots and lifelike sculptural works which convey an innate curiosity around nature, enthralling all ages.

Chrystal Genesis visits the fantastical exhibition with her children, who have been learning about the work, and together they speak with NYBG Director of Public Engagement at NYBG, Joanna Groarke.

Bronx based Haitian American mixed media performance artist and self described ‘artivist and cultural vigilante’, Tasha Dougé has centred her practice around ideas that resonate with her identity as a Black woman of Haitian descent.

Themes including women empowerment, social injustice and racism center her practice. Tasha’s bold and unapologetic pieces such as This Land is Our Land, and I Pledge Allegiance have been featured in the New York Times and Essence magazine.

She is also an alum of the Laundromat Project's Create Change Fellowship, and the Studio Museum of Harlem's Museum Education Program, to name a few. Tasha takes us on a walking tour of South Bronx and chats with Stance about how the borough inspires her creative practice.

In the Southwestern Morrisania neighborhood of The Bronx is Bognan International, a little slice of Togo in New York City. Restaurant owner Fousseni Alidou has lived in the Bronx for 36 years, and with his sister, Haga Kamal, owns the bustling Bognan International restaurant.

Photographs of available dishes line the restaurant’s brick walls, of traditional Togolese and West African speciality dishes made from scratch. Their menu includes Offal skewers coated in a piquant paste of chile powder and pulverized peanuts, and meat pies to be had with a cooling homemade ginger drink.

Evocative of dishes from Togo and the wider West African region, the restaurant is a homely, informal hub for home cooked food from Fousseni’s home country which he aims to share with the world. Stance pops into Bognan International, and chats with owner Fousseni Alidou to find out more.

The historic Arthur Avenue located in the Belmont area of The Bronx serves as the real Little Italy of New York City. Along the avenue sits Madonia Brothers Bakery, an authentic Italian bakery running for a staggering four generations. We visit the Sicilian bakery, famous for its freshly made and crispy ricotta filled cannoli, biscotti, bread, and more.

A landmark on Arthur Avenue, the bakery is one of many authentic Italian restaurants, artisanal food shops, and specialty stores still thriving in the area. Stance finds out about its heritage, tries delicious Italian delicacies on offer, and chats with baker and co-owner Daniel Madonia.

We move to the South Bronx area of Hunts Point to hear from Bronx born and raised hip hop artist, Kemba. Known for his complex and raw lyrics and arresting beats, Kemba is a rising star who has collaborated with rappers including Jharrel Jerome and Joey Bada$$.

Growing up in the birthplace of hip hop, Kemba was immersed in the sounds and history of the Bronx throughout his childhood, creating music from the age of nine. He chats with Stance about his evolution as an artist, the influence of The Bronx’s infectious creative energy, and attending the momentous Michael Brown protests in Missouri.

Music Used in this podcast:

Kemba’s track listing via Top Dawg Entertainment:

For Real - Jharrel Jerome (feat.Kemba)

Daemons - XXXTENTACION & Kemba (feat. Joey Bada$$)

Album: Gilda by Kemba (tracks below)

Exhale

Deadass

Last Year Being Broke

Cultural Shoutouts:

Listen:

Read:

Art:

Watch:

Yayoi Kusama Works Mentioned:

Dancing Pumpkin (2020)

Pumpkin (2004)

Narcissus Garden (1966/2021)

I Want to Fly to the Universe (2020)

Pumpkins Screaming about Love Beyond Infinity (2017)

My Soul Blooms Forever (2019)

Front Page Image Credit: Starry Pumpkin at NYBG, photographed by Linda Laban