Thangam Debbonaire
@thangamdebbonaire.bsky.social
Advisor and consultant to various, esp creative sector.
art, books, writing, roses, music, languages (I struggle but it’s worth it)
Member of the House of Lords.
art, books, writing, roses, music, languages (I struggle but it’s worth it)
Member of the House of Lords.
Here is the article from the Times this morning covering some of what I said about the statue of Robert Clive. At the very least, it needs accuracy and context. Ideally, it should not be outside the Foreign Office. Just some honesty in general about the impact of British colonialism would be good.
August 11, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Here is the article from the Times this morning covering some of what I said about the statue of Robert Clive. At the very least, it needs accuracy and context. Ideally, it should not be outside the Foreign Office. Just some honesty in general about the impact of British colonialism would be good.
Yeah I’m in the circus tent at #Glastonbury baby.
June 28, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Yeah I’m in the circus tent at #Glastonbury baby.
Excited to be chairing the “in conversation” with Mishal Husain (Broken Threads) and @simonparkin.bsky.social (The Forbidden Garden of Leningrad) 7pm 19/6/25 at @foylesforbooks.bsky.social Charing X. Two/eight brilliant @orwellprize.bsky.social finalists. Tickets 👇🏽
www.foyles.co.uk/events/orwel...
www.foyles.co.uk/events/orwel...
May 28, 2025 at 4:19 AM
Excited to be chairing the “in conversation” with Mishal Husain (Broken Threads) and @simonparkin.bsky.social (The Forbidden Garden of Leningrad) 7pm 19/6/25 at @foylesforbooks.bsky.social Charing X. Two/eight brilliant @orwellprize.bsky.social finalists. Tickets 👇🏽
www.foyles.co.uk/events/orwel...
www.foyles.co.uk/events/orwel...
Also this weekend, the continued creation from scratch of a garden in my new Newport home. I never promised anyone a rose garden, but now I’m making one.
May 26, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Also this weekend, the continued creation from scratch of a garden in my new Newport home. I never promised anyone a rose garden, but now I’m making one.
An absolute joy to be at @howthelightgetsin2.bsky.social festival in Hay this last few days, with lively and respectful debates across huge differences, thoughtful and constructive discussion. Topics from identity politics to wealth distribution, “us” and “them” to trust in politics. Thanks all!
May 26, 2025 at 9:46 PM
An absolute joy to be at @howthelightgetsin2.bsky.social festival in Hay this last few days, with lively and respectful debates across huge differences, thoughtful and constructive discussion. Topics from identity politics to wealth distribution, “us” and “them” to trust in politics. Thanks all!
From @financialtimes.com today re UK negotiating with EU - touring rights for creatives. Something lots of us in creative worlds have campaigned on since before they got mucked up by a rubbish Brexit.
May 8, 2025 at 5:38 AM
From @financialtimes.com today re UK negotiating with EU - touring rights for creatives. Something lots of us in creative worlds have campaigned on since before they got mucked up by a rubbish Brexit.
Seems like a good moment to re-read Walter Benjamin “The Work of Art in an Age of Mechanical Reproduction”. When honing arguments about art and creativity and the importance of the human, as part of the live discussion about AI and copyright.
February 8, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Seems like a good moment to re-read Walter Benjamin “The Work of Art in an Age of Mechanical Reproduction”. When honing arguments about art and creativity and the importance of the human, as part of the live discussion about AI and copyright.
Packing up my Bristol house after 33 years, 2 months and a few days and it turns out when you think you’re nearly done there’s a lot more house than you thought.
January 26, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Packing up my Bristol house after 33 years, 2 months and a few days and it turns out when you think you’re nearly done there’s a lot more house than you thought.
Here is a bit of #booksky - my weekend! The poem is Mahmoud Darwish “The Dreamers Pass from One Sky to Another”, in Arabic! It’s a joy to have got to this point. The blue/gold notebook is for creative writing and this weekend that’s storing memories of the house I’m leaving after 34 years.
January 19, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Here is a bit of #booksky - my weekend! The poem is Mahmoud Darwish “The Dreamers Pass from One Sky to Another”, in Arabic! It’s a joy to have got to this point. The blue/gold notebook is for creative writing and this weekend that’s storing memories of the house I’m leaving after 34 years.
How I’m starting 2025. Intentionally setting the tone for the year. There will be books, writing, pretty dresses, many cushions, the work of my excellent hairdresser, music. Poem tattoos. And some other stuff.
January 5, 2025 at 12:57 PM
How I’m starting 2025. Intentionally setting the tone for the year. There will be books, writing, pretty dresses, many cushions, the work of my excellent hairdresser, music. Poem tattoos. And some other stuff.
Orange wall. Tree shadows.
January 5, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Orange wall. Tree shadows.
It’s not for Holi only, it’s for every day!
January 5, 2025 at 2:40 AM
It’s not for Holi only, it’s for every day!
Light, paints, packing cases, calendars. #GoubertMarket #Pondicherry
January 4, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Light, paints, packing cases, calendars. #GoubertMarket #Pondicherry
January 3, 2025 at 4:38 AM
More exciting news! I’m joining the advisory board of the Parthenon Project - bringing my skills and knowledge to a fantastic piece of work which will hopefully lead to a win-win solution to reunite the beautiful Parthenon Marbles.
December 17, 2024 at 7:37 AM
More exciting news! I’m joining the advisory board of the Parthenon Project - bringing my skills and knowledge to a fantastic piece of work which will hopefully lead to a win-win solution to reunite the beautiful Parthenon Marbles.
Mary Wollstonecraft, author “Vindication of the Rights of Women”. Recently read her “Vindication of the Rights of Men” - scathing response to Burke’s “Reflections on the Revolution in France”, criticising his gendered language as well as hereditary principle. Spotted in Dolben St near Tate Modern.
December 11, 2024 at 6:29 AM
Mary Wollstonecraft, author “Vindication of the Rights of Women”. Recently read her “Vindication of the Rights of Men” - scathing response to Burke’s “Reflections on the Revolution in France”, criticising his gendered language as well as hereditary principle. Spotted in Dolben St near Tate Modern.
On at Tate Modern in Turbine Hall at the moment - stunning exhibition “Open Wound” by Mire Lee. Fills the space with hanging sculpture which provokes a range of complicated emotions and reminds us this was an industrial space.
www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tat...
www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tat...
December 10, 2024 at 8:45 AM
On at Tate Modern in Turbine Hall at the moment - stunning exhibition “Open Wound” by Mire Lee. Fills the space with hanging sculpture which provokes a range of complicated emotions and reminds us this was an industrial space.
www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tat...
www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tat...
Spending day marking liberation of Syria from 5 decades’ brutal Assad dynasty doing Arabic homework, reading more of @profdanhicks.bsky.social “Brutish Museums” and Omar Al Akkad’s “One Day, Everyone Will Always Have Been Against This”. & thinking about what art and culture mean in these times.
December 8, 2024 at 3:05 PM
Spending day marking liberation of Syria from 5 decades’ brutal Assad dynasty doing Arabic homework, reading more of @profdanhicks.bsky.social “Brutish Museums” and Omar Al Akkad’s “One Day, Everyone Will Always Have Been Against This”. & thinking about what art and culture mean in these times.
Tumultuous year, made wonderful by amazing staff, brilliant friends and new opportunities. Last night celebrated with some of the above with a night at the opera - @royaloperahouse.bsky.social is my happy place. We saw Tosca - an old fave. Never heard Vissi D’Arte better sung.
December 7, 2024 at 11:35 AM
Tumultuous year, made wonderful by amazing staff, brilliant friends and new opportunities. Last night celebrated with some of the above with a night at the opera - @royaloperahouse.bsky.social is my happy place. We saw Tosca - an old fave. Never heard Vissi D’Arte better sung.
A Southbank day - at National Theatre this morning prepping for presentation to Southbank Centre board meeting, then board meeting, reception in Royal Festival Hall and now QEH for Orwell Foundation talk by Nazanin Zachary-Radcliffe.
December 5, 2024 at 7:29 PM
A Southbank day - at National Theatre this morning prepping for presentation to Southbank Centre board meeting, then board meeting, reception in Royal Festival Hall and now QEH for Orwell Foundation talk by Nazanin Zachary-Radcliffe.
A Southbank day - at National Theatre this morning prepping for presentation to Southbank Centre board meeting, then board meeting, reception in Royal Festival Hall and now QEH for Orwell Foundation talk by Nazanin Zachary-Radcliffe.
December 5, 2024 at 7:28 PM
A Southbank day - at National Theatre this morning prepping for presentation to Southbank Centre board meeting, then board meeting, reception in Royal Festival Hall and now QEH for Orwell Foundation talk by Nazanin Zachary-Radcliffe.
Off to do double media shift - first @skynewsrss.bsky.social politics hub with @sophyridge.bsky.social and then later @bbcnewsnight.bsky.social
December 2, 2024 at 6:49 PM
Off to do double media shift - first @skynewsrss.bsky.social politics hub with @sophyridge.bsky.social and then later @bbcnewsnight.bsky.social
I’ve wanted these for so long - and today it was time. Thanks to Pompon Amsterdam for creating this permanent bouquet with me I will have glorious flowers all year round! More environmentally friendly, surely?
November 30, 2024 at 11:19 AM
I’ve wanted these for so long - and today it was time. Thanks to Pompon Amsterdam for creating this permanent bouquet with me I will have glorious flowers all year round! More environmentally friendly, surely?
Cultural inspiration from the last week which is sending me off on a busy work day for creativity with energy - British Museum Silk Roads exhibition, Raphael Wallfisch cello concert and Hilary Hahn in my ears (Bach 2nd partita).
November 25, 2024 at 9:50 AM
Cultural inspiration from the last week which is sending me off on a busy work day for creativity with energy - British Museum Silk Roads exhibition, Raphael Wallfisch cello concert and Hilary Hahn in my ears (Bach 2nd partita).