Tiny Traces: African & Asian Children at London’s Foundling Hospital

Moving exhibition at the Foundling Museum tracing children in their care in the 18th century of African and Asian descent.

As ever from this museum the show was wonderfully researched and told the story of a selection of children in their care. It put their lives in the context of the expanding colonialism in the century and the lives of black people in London. 1 in 1000 of their foundlings were off African or Asian descent.

There were some remarkable glimpses of lives which could be built into novels. Such as Anne Watson whose mother Martha born in Calcutta, had left her child but returned for her when she married William Green from Barbados. They planned to leave for the x-slave colony at Sierra Leone. Also Fanny Kenyon whose story is told in more detail in an excellent booklet that goes with the show.

The display didn’t shy away from the fact that many of the governors and donors of the charity were involved in colonial trade including the slave trade and put this in the context of the economy of the time.

The stories were shown beside works by contemporary artists reflecting the ideas of the show. My favourites were a beatify Kehinde Wiley portrait and the dresses made of paper maps of the UK, East Africa and India by Zarina Bhimji.

Closes 19 February 2023


 

 

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