The British Museum - Curators' Tour of Hew Locke: What have we here? exhibition at the British Museum
Hew Locke's exhibition at the British Museum challenges traditional narratives by juxtaposing objects from different cultures and periods with his own artworks. This approach raises questions about colonial legacies and the impact of empire on contemporary culture. The exhibition avoids a linear narrative, instead grouping disparate objects to provoke thought and conversation. Locke's work includes sculptures covered in symbolic materials, reflecting the burden of history carried by figures like Queen Victoria. The exhibition also highlights the British Museum's ties to the slave trade, using objects like trade beads and pro-slavery propaganda to illustrate the complexities of history. The 'Watchers' in the exhibition serve to challenge the viewer's role, flipping the traditional museum dynamic. Locke's careful integration of his art with historical objects aims to create a web of connections, encouraging visitors to leave with more questions than answers. The exhibition also addresses the looting of artifacts during colonial wars, using examples like the Asante ewer and Benin sculptures to discuss the multifaceted nature of loot. By pairing historical artworks with contemporary interpretations, Locke draws out underlying tensions and violence in historical narratives, aiming to balance beauty with the problematic aspects of history.
Key Points:
- The exhibition juxtaposes objects from different cultures and periods to challenge traditional narratives and provoke thought.
- Hew Locke uses symbolic materials in his sculptures to reflect historical burdens, such as colonial legacies.
- The exhibition highlights the British Museum's historical ties to the slave trade, using objects like trade beads and pro-slavery propaganda.
- 'Watchers' in the exhibition challenge the viewer's role, flipping the traditional museum dynamic.
- The exhibition addresses the looting of artifacts during colonial wars, using examples like the Asante ewer and Benin sculptures.
Details:
1. 🎨 Creative Fusion: Hew Locke's Museum Collaboration
- Hew Locke partnered with over twenty curators to delve into the British Museum's collection, including both well-known treasures and lesser-seen artifacts.
- The collaboration emphasizes the juxtaposition of objects from diverse cultures and historical periods, challenging viewers to question and reflect.
- A central theme of the exhibition is the exploration of colonial legacies and their impact on contemporary culture.
- Objects are curated in non-linear groupings, designed to foster individual connections and initiate meaningful conversations among viewers.
2. 👑 Reimagining Queen Victoria: From Oppression to History
2.1. Statue of Queen Victoria in Georgetown, Guyana
2.2. Changing Symbolism and Reactions
2.3. Parian Ware Sculptures and Historical Burdens
3. 🚢 Hidden Narratives: Slavery and Trade Uncovered
- The exhibition uncovers hidden stories in seemingly benign imagery, such as naval portraits that reveal connections to slaving ships, underscoring the pervasive nature of the slave trade in art and history.
- The British Museum's origins are deeply intertwined with the slave trade, highlighting the complicity and economic benefits derived from slavery by national institutions, an often-overlooked aspect of history.
- Artifacts like trade beads and decorative jugs serve as tangible symbols of the slave trade, bridging historical complexities with modern understanding and highlighting the moral challenges inherent in these artifacts.
- Pro-slavery propaganda, exemplified by a Liverpool jug wishing success to a slaving ship, reveals the widespread support for slavery during the era, emphasizing the need to acknowledge both the advocates and opponents of slavery.
4. 👀 The Watchers: Challenging Museum Dynamics
- The Watchers are designed to subvert traditional museum dynamics by placing the visitors in a position where they are being observed, thus flipping the conventional role of the spectator. This unique setup encourages visitors to reflect on their role and perspective within the museum space.
- The figures, referred to as 'Watchers', are strategically placed behind the cabinets to create an alternate realm, prompting visitors to question their involvement and the power dynamics in the museum setting.
- Concerns about the potential perception of the Watchers as 'cheesy' were addressed by careful planning of their placement and role in the exhibition to maintain a sense of depth and seriousness.
- The costumes and masks of the Watchers are crafted from prints of historical artifacts such as share certificates and medals, creating a symbolic connection to the looted objects displayed in the museum, thus adding layers to the narrative.
- A specific example includes a figure wearing a dress made from a Jamaican share certificate, directly linking the exhibition to colonial enterprises in regions like Guyana, thereby deepening the historical context.
- The exhibition blends real and imaginary elements to encourage visitors to connect various historical narratives and themes, fostering a complex web of interactions that invite deeper engagement.
- Overall, the exhibition aims to provoke curiosity and reflection, leaving visitors with more questions than answers, thus enhancing their experience by challenging their perceptions and encouraging them to explore further.
5. 🏺 Colonial Artifacts: Cultural Contexts and Complexity
5.1. Asante Ewer's Journey
5.2. Cultural Significance and Context of the Asante Ewer
5.3. Impact of Photographic Documentation
5.4. Benin Portuguese Mercenary: Symbolism and Complexity
5.5. Trade and Loot Beyond Gold
6. 🌿 Suriname's Stories: Art and Abolition Juxtaposed
- Artists have re-contextualized traditional drawings to avoid cliched depictions of oppressed bodies, offering a fresh perspective on historical narratives.
- The exhibition features drawings that juxtapose scenes of nature with the tensions of the plantation system, using metaphorical imagery such as unnatural animal behavior to symbolize underlying conflicts.
- Maria Sibylla's drawings are paired with the book 'Narrative of a Five Year Expedition against the Revolted Negroes of Suriname', highlighting the brutal reality of plantation life and contributing to the abolitionist discourse.
- The exhibition intentionally eschews direct images of brutality, opting instead for subtle visual cues that draw attention to the inherent violence of the era.
- John Gabriel Stedman's influential narrative, depicted in the exhibition, played a significant role in the abolitionist movement by exposing the brutality of the slave system.
- Artworks from different times and cultures are juxtaposed to reveal both metaphorical and real tensions and violence, illustrating historical continuity.
- The pairing of Maria Sibylla's images with works by William Blake emphasizes the persistent theme of violence and tension throughout history, highlighting the enduring impact of these narratives on the abolitionist movement.
7. 💎 Loot and Legacy: A Complex Tapestry
- In 1873-4, during the third Anglo-Ashanti war, a soul-washer disc was seized, reflecting the looting practices of the era and the colonial economic exploitation exemplified by the indemnity payment demanded from Asantahene Kofi Karikari.
- The disc symbolizes the complex legacy of colonial conquests, serving as a trophy inscribed with historical significance.
- Current exhibitions at the British Museum, once considered improbable, indicate a cultural shift in addressing these difficult historical narratives.
- The exhibition attempts to balance historical context with artistic beauty, presenting a nuanced view of colonial impact and cultural identity.