Hi All I wanted to share some of the photos from , ‘The World Reimagined’ 2023, a public exhibition at the Greenwich Maritime Museum in London. It is located outside the grounds near the Queens House. This is a reflection on the shared histories and narrative of the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

Here’s The Rub

Its a meta-narrative that shines a light on the past, present and future of the Slave Trade most active between the 16-19th century. The perspective is told from that of the African Diasporic people and those from colonies and former colonies. It includes a range of artists including Yinka Shonibare and others who are more contemporary.

Some themes resonate such as the displacement of wealth, the barbarity of the slave trade, the continuation of culture, cultural identity, national identity, African womanhood and within these grooves many more sub-facets.

Each globe was truly unique. Some Painterly impressionist in style, some quite 3D and tactile using a mixture of collage and sculpture, others borrowing from the true African expressionistic style. Many will know the origin was popularised in Europe but owes its debts to African art; ‘Primitivism’ it was called around the zeitgeist of 1960s. Primitivism itself had & has more than one aim and was not singular. But certainly one can see obvious influence in the everyday and ceremonial sculpture and masks of African and West African art.

I digress, There were over one hundred globes commissioned and around 36 used for the installation outside the museum. The show travelled once again during Black History Month and could be seen in many places individually placed around London.

Other Themes

The artists in the installation also address, ‘appearance politics’, ‘race’, ‘dress’, ‘wealth’ and ‘revenue ill gotten’ without any attempts at redress. There were nods to the inequality faced by young men of African descent in the UK. Other artists literally explored the ‘routes’ that the Slavers took across the seas. Other themes chimed a relatively well place (if not a little muted) call to action and change. This is handled sensitively and not overly militant. I’m sure the artists and content were vetted quite carefully and curated.

The Museum is run by funding from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

Here’s the photos, I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.