Lubaina Himid: Meticulous Observations and Naming the Money

Interesting exhibition at the Walker Art in Liverpool of work by contemporary artist Lubaina Himid.

The core of the show was a selection of work made by Himid of work by women from the Walker Gallery’s own collections which used a sculpture of Henry Longfellow by Edmonia Lewis as the starting point. The selection included work by Nina Hamnett, Prunella Clough and Tacita Dean.

These sculptures were shown with Himid’s watercolour series “Scenes from the Life of Toussaint L’Ouverture”. Toussaint was a Haitian leader of the only successful slave uprising in the Caribbean. The pictures were delightful and read like a cartoon strip.

Best though was a wonderful series of colourful, life-sized cut-out figures which were scattered around the gallery which were part of an installation called “Naming the Money” which show examine how European’s showed their wealth and power by using African’s as slaves. They were placed to open up a conversation with the art around them and to make you question the reality of the life being shown in that art. Himid has donated 90 of the figures to the International Slavery Museum in Liverpool

The show has become even more interesting since I saw it as Himid was awarded this years’ Turner Prize.

Closes on 18 March 2018

 

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