Escape to myself

As you enter the courtyard you are instantly arrested by First Supper by Tavares Strachan a reimagining of Leonardo’s Last Supper in black and gold portraying famous black historical figures. It’s a suitable introduction to this exhibition exploring art in the eighteenth century and beyond and its difficult, complex and often contentious relationship with slavery and colonialism. It takes us from the often incidental appearance of black servants in opulent settings, ironically often funded by slavery, to the engagement of today’s black artists both with their own past and with the art of the coloniser. I found it stimulating and inspiring.

The exhibition showcases some of the work by the founding Royal Acedemicians Reynolds and Gainsborough some which seem of have emotional engagement with the sitter. There are also works by American artists Benjamin West and Copley who paint their black subjects in historically acceptable settings

Others are more peripheral and less individual showing black servants in subservient poses.

The representation of black artists was especially good to see

Along with photographs, art by contemporary makers, film and sculpture. This exhibition has some flaws … all do of course… but as an exploration of current black artists engagement with the past and historical depictions of otherness, eroticism, exoticism and how we observe ourselves and others. I recommend it as a thought provoking experience. It was interesting to note that the right wing press generally panned it while the left loved it. Another example of the current polarisation of our society.