Q&A: Asmaa Jama, New Contemporaries 24/25 artist

Artist Asmaa tells us more about their multidisciplinary practice, life after New Contemporaries, preparing for this year's Venice Biennale and their must-see pavilions, as well as some thoughtful advice for early career artists.

My practice uses text, moving image, painting and performance, to explore mythologies and speculative histories in afro-diasporic contexts. I'm particularly interested in what people believe, why they believe it and the rituals and practices that emerge from these beliefs.

It was a great opportunity to show work alongside a brilliant cohort. I have felt supported by the programme. Since it, I've spent most of my time working at my studio at Spike Island, making a new body of work called The Blood Coast, which looks at the pearl diving histories in the Indian Ocean. And I have spent most of this year preparing to show work in Venice Biennale at the Somalia Pavilion.

I can recommend checking out the African pavilions. I managed to make it to Senegal's and have heard great things about the rest. I also really recommend Ecuador's curatorial project, a really interesting proposition in terms of installation and moving image work. And of course, I'm biased but come to the Somalia Pavilion!

Be kind. A lot of people spend their time rushing forward trying to get ahead, but I feel like kindness is what people remember. And it makes our work a whole lot easier.

Also, work with your peers and the people around you, find new interesting ways to collaborate.

Try to share skills. I'm incredibly grateful to everyone I learnt something from and I am grateful to have been able to do the same in turn.

And finally have fun, because what's the point otherwise.