“Entangled Pasts, 1768–now”: A Thought-Provoking Exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts
In a significant artistic and historical endeavor, the Royal Academy of Arts in London is set to present “Entangled Pasts, 1768–now: Art, Colonialism and Change” from 3rd February to 28th April 2024. This ambitious exhibition, supported by Matthew and Brooke Barzun among others, aims to spark a conversation about art’s role in shaping narratives around empire, enslavement, resistance, abolition, and colonialism.
The exhibition, informed by the RA’s ongoing research into its links with colonialism, brings together over 100 contemporary and historic artworks spanning over 250 years. This period covers the foundation of the Royal Academy in 1768 to the present day, exploring the relationship between art and our understanding of the past. Artists connected to the institution, numbering over 50, contribute to this exploration, examining the interplay of art with history and culture.
Visitors can expect to see a diverse array of art forms, including large-scale paintings, sculptures, immersive installations, films, intimate works on paper, and poetry. This variety provides new contexts for interpreting and understanding these pieces. The exhibition features artworks by renowned contemporary artists like Frank Bowling RA, Sonia Boyce RA, and Lubaina Himid RA, engaging in dialogue with historical works by Joshua Reynolds PRA and Thomas Gainsborough RA, among others.
“Entangled Pasts” was programmed in response to public debates about the relationship between artistic representation and imperial histories, significantly influenced by the Black Lives Matter protests and the toppling of Edward Colston’s statue in 2020. The RA’s Summer Exhibition 2021, coordinated by Yinka Shonibare with the theme ‘Reclaiming Magic’, further inspired the Academy to transcend the Western canon and establish connections globally, particularly with British artists of African, Caribbean, and Indian diasporas.
The exhibition is divided into three thematic sections: “Sites of Power”, “Beauty and Difference”, and “Crossing Waters”. Each section intertwines narratives across time, examining different aspects of colonial legacy. Highlights include historical portraits like Joshua Reynolds’ “Portrait of a Man, probably Francis Barber,” and contemporary works such as Kerry James Marshall Hon RA’s “Scipio Moorhead, Portrait of Himself.” Hew Locke’s major installation “Armada” and Lubaina Himid’s “Naming the Money” are other notable inclusions.
The Royal Academy of Arts, an independent institution founded in 1768, continues its tradition of promoting the visual arts through this exhibition. “Entangled Pasts” is not just an exhibition; it’s a forum for acknowledgment, reflection, and debate, taking a step towards necessary change. The exhibition, curated by a team of renowned art historians and accompanied by a fully illustrated publication, invites viewers to consider how conversations around these legacies might unfold in the future.
Tickets are priced from £22, with concessions available, and advance booking is recommended. The RA also provides a range of accompanying events and online content to enhance the visitor experience.