Banana Shark is a Myth
1 August 2025
Banana Shark is a Myth was an open studio event takeover with Towner’s youth collective, Banana Sharks!
Throughout the session they explored their independent and collaborative practices spanning performance, painting, poetry, photography, costumes and crochet and inviting the public to create their own myth around their elusive namesake.
Supported by aritst Babalola Yusuf and Dana Brass the Sharks opened their two-year archive and practice spanning performance, poetry, mark-making and crochet to support participants to create their own myths and stories. Dana and Babalola supported the Sharks to create a safe, and creative enviroment to explore their independant practice.
Participants were invited to explore a range of materials, instruments and prompts to create their own Banana Shark myth as an artwork, soundscape or story.
To find out more about the programme here.
Photography by Sha Pajot
About the artists
Dana Brass is an interdisciplinary artist, primarily working with photography, drawing, painting, and printmaking. Dana is also a psychotherapist and supervisor.
Dana has worked as an artist-facilitator in community organisations, with people of all ages and backgrounds, for over 15 years. In particular, Dana enjoys the group process and facilitation of collaborative work. Originally from the USA, Dana moved to the UK in 1998. Dana has lived in East Sussex since 2006.
Babalola Yusuf is a multidisciplinary artist interested in how art can explore intersections, how it is possible for a photograph or the repetition of a phrase or simple imagery to transcend itself. Much like a seed which in specific soil, with specific conditions, begins to unfold up and into light – is it possible through an artwork to exist to both soil and sky, to experience eternity in time? Babalola works with performance, painting, film, photography, sculpture and sound and was on Flatland Projects' Early Careers Programme from 2022/2023.
Banana Sharks is delivered with support from The Meads Fund - Sussex Community Foundation and John Jackson Charitable Trust.
