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New art trail exploring impact of the slave trade set to open in Swansea

11 Aug 2022 3 minute read
Exhibition Artistic Director Lady Ashley Shaw Scott Adjaye views globe sculptures from ‘The World Reimagined’, at Dean’s Yard at Westminster Abbey, London, ahead of the launch of a new public art trail. Picture by Dominic Lipinski / PA Wire

A new public art trail reflecting on colonial histories and the impact of the slave trade is coming to Swansea.

More than 100 artist-designed globe sculptures will appear in the city from Saturday and will be free to view by the public until October 31.

The project aims to explore the relationship between the nations of the UK and the transatlantic slave trade, its impact on society and how action can be taken to make racial justice a reality.

The design of the globes explore themes including the culture of Africa before the slave trade and an ode to the Windrush generation.

Taking place in Swansea, Bristol, Birmingham, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool and London, all trails will be connected by a digital platform that allows visitors to explore the collection and the history it reflects.

It has been created by arts organisation The World Reimagined, of which singer Michelle Gayle is a co-founder.

Ms Gayle said: “We know that the greatest force for progress and justice is people coming together in understanding, in conversation and in action.

“That is what we have seen so far in the artists, activists, schools, community groups, businesses and councils who have made The World Reimagined possible.

“These thought-provoking, challenging and inspiring works of art that are now transforming the streets of our host cities invite us to understand it is not ‘Black history’ – it’s all of our history.

“All of us have a role to play in the work of making racial justice a reality. So, we hope you will explore the trails and join the conversation.”

Collection

The trail will also feature more than 170 small globes created by schools who have taken part in The World Reimagined learning programme.

Among the more than 100 artists who are involved are Nicola Green, Lakwena Maciver, Vashti Harrison and Yinka Shonibare, who devised the sculpture shape.

The collection has been created with a number of partners including Professor Kehinde Andrews, the British Library and the International Slavery Museum.

The trails are part of a broader programme encouraging and supporting conversations around racial justice.

Forty-two of the designs were displayed in Dean’s Yard in Westminster, London today for one day only before being dispersed throughout the city.


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Sorgina
Sorgina
1 year ago

The article is factually incorrect. The Swansea launch event occurred yesterday (Wednesday) and the globes are already in place. Swansea has 10 globes, the “more than 100” refers to the project as a whole in all seven cities.

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