Hew Locke’s ‘What Have We Here?’: A Kaleidoscopic Reframing of History at the British Museum

Artist Hew Locke’s latest exhibition at the British Museum, ‘What Have We Here?’, confronts the museum’s colonial past head-on, challenging viewers to grapple with the contentious history of its collection. Through a curated selection of over 150 objects, Locke reimagines the narrative, offering a perspective from the colonized, not the colonizer. This insightful exhibition, a ‘beautiful can of worms,’ explores the complexities of empire, colonialism, and restitution, prompting critical dialogue about the future of museums in a changing world.

Decolonize Public Artwork or Face Removal, Warns Welsh Government

Public bodies in Wales are facing pressure to remove or conceal any public-facing artworks that perpetuate a Western bias or are deemed offensive. This move comes as part of the Welsh Government’s new guidelines to ‘decolonize’ public spaces and ensure a more inclusive representation of society. The directive affects paintings, plaques, and other forms of artwork, including statues like the one of Thomas Picton, which was removed from Cardiff City Hall in 2021.

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