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life between island hero image

Sonia Boyce, Missionary Position II, 1985. Watercolour, pastel and crayon on paper, Support: 123.8 × 183 cm. Tate. Purchased 1987. T05020. © Sonia Boyce (Copyright Visual Arts-CARCC, 2023) Photo: Tate.

Life Between Islands: Caribbean-British Art 1950s-Now

On now until April 1, 2024

Located on Level 5

Member or Annual Pass Holder

Admission is always FREE for AGO Members, AGO Annual Pass Holders & Visitors 25 and under. Learn more.

EXHIBITION OVERVIEW

Making its way across the Atlantic to the AGO from Tate Britain, Life Between Islands: Caribbean-British Art, 1950s–Now examines the relationship between the Caribbean and Britain and reconsiders British art history in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries from a Caribbean perspective. Featuring more than 30 artists, including Frank Bowling, Aubrey Williams, Donald Locke, Horace Ové, Sonia Boyce, Claudette Johnson, Peter Doig, Hurvin Anderson, Barbara Walker and Alberta Whittle, the presentation spans a range of mediums, from paintings to documentary photography, film, and sculpture. Life Between Islands addresses timely and relevant themes such as the role of culture in decolonization, the meaning of home, the reclaiming of ancestral traditions, the nature of Caribbean and diasporic identity, as well as racial discrimination and sociopolitical conflict. The artworks and themes presented in the exhibition reflect decades of Caribbean culture and thought, and celebrate the vibrancy, solidarity and creativity behind this artistic legacy.

Organized by the AGO and originated by Tate Britain

Co-Curated by David A. Bailey, Director, International Curators Forum, and Alex Farquharson, Director, Tate Britain

The AGO presentation is overseen by Julie Crooks, Curator, Arts of Global Africa and the Diaspora

Please be aware that Room 502 in this exhibition contains flashing lights that may affect visitors with photosensitivity.

A CARIBBEAN-BRITISH TIMELINE: ART, CULTURE AND SOCIETY

Download the Timeline (189 KB)

ARTWORKS FROM THE EXHIBITION

Barbara Walker. The Sitter, 2002. Oil on canvas of hair braiding

Barbara Walker. The Sitter, 2002. Oil on canvas, Overall: 121.9 × 182.9 cm. Tate: Purchased 2022. © Barbara Walker, courtesy of Cristea Roberts Gallery. Photo: Tate.

Life Between Islands - artworks slideshow

Hurvin Anderson, Hawksbill Bay, 2020. Acrylic paint and oil paint on canvas

Hurvin Anderson, Hawksbill Bay, 2020. Acrylic paint and oil paint on canvas, Overall: 149.9 × 205 cm. Lent by Tate Americas Foundation, courtesy of Mala Gaonkar 2023 © Hurvin Anderson. Photo: Richard Ivey.

Life Between Islands - artworks slideshow

Denzil Forrester. Jah Shaka, 1983. Oil paint on canvas.

Denzil Forrester. Jah Shaka, 1983. Oil paint on canvas, Overall: 213.4 × 274.3 cm. Collection Shane Akeroyd, London. © Denzil Forrester, courtesy Stephen Friedman Gallery, London and New York.

Life Between Islands - artworks slideshow

Tam Joseph. The Spirit of the Carnival, 1982. Gouache on paper mounted to board

Tam Joseph. The Spirit of the Carnival, 1982. Gouache on paper mounted to board, Overall: 174 × 213.1 cm. Courtesy of Wolverhampton Arts & Heritage. © Tam Joseph, courtesy Felix & Spear Gallery. Photo: Wolverhampton Art Gallery.

Life Between Islands - artworks slideshow

Alberta Whittle. We Remain With You, 2022. Raffia, acrylic, cotton, synthetic braiding hair, doillies, wool, felt and cowrie shells on linen

Alberta Whittle. We Remain With You, 2022. Raffia, acrylic, cotton, synthetic braiding hair, doillies, wool, felt and cowrie shells on linen, Overall: 172.7 × 165.1 × 20.3 cm. Courtesy of Alberta Whittle and Nicola Vassell Gallery © Alberta Whittle. Photo: Adam Reich Photography

Life Between Islands - artworks slideshow

Vanley Burke. Professor Stuart Hall in his Office at Birmingham University, School of Cultural Studies, 1975, printed 2023. Gelatin silver print

Vanley Burke. Professor Stuart Hall in his Office at Birmingham University, School of Cultural Studies, 1975, printed 2023. Gelatin silver print, 63.5 × 78.7 cm. Courtesy of the artist. © Vanley Burke.

Life Between Islands - artworks slideshow

Vanley Burke. Mrs Walker and her customers at her hairdressers shop, Rookery Road, 1979, printed 2023. Gelatin silver print.

Vanley Burke. Mrs Walker and her customers at her hairdressers shop, Rookery Road, 1979, printed 2023. Gelatin silver print, 63.5 × 78.7 cm25 x 31". Courtesy of the artist. © Vanley Burke.

Life Between Islands - artworks slideshow

Neil Kenlock, Black Panther school bags, 1970, printed 2010. Gelatin silver print.

Neil Kenlock, Black Panther school bags, 1970, printed 2010. Gelatin silver print, Overall: 38.1 × 25.4 cm. Courtesy of the Neil Kenlock Archive. © Neil Kenlock

Life Between Islands - artworks slideshow

John Lyons, Carnival Jouvert, 2005. Oil on canvas.

John Lyons, Carnival Jouvert, 2005. Oil on canvas, Overall: 68.6 × 49 × 2.5 cm. Halamish collection, London (courtesy of Felix & Spear Gallery). © John Lyons, courtesy of Felix & Spear Gallery.

Life Between Islands - artworks slideshow

RESOURCES

Additional large-print label resources, in French and English, that include introductory panel text, section texts for each exhibition content area, and labels for key works throughout the exhibition.

Download large print in English (PDF 540 KB)

Download large print in French (PDF 566 KB)

BlindSquare Event App

blindsquare

BlindSquare is a free GPS app developed for the blind, deafblind, and partially sighted. The GPS technology will alert your device to each described audio stop, provide text-to-speech for in-gallery room panels and wayfinding directives in this exhibition. You can download the app from the Apple App Store or by using a QR code onsite. iOS compatible only.