Hew Locke what have we here?

Hew Locke / British Museum

Location

British Museum
Great Russell Street
London
WC1B 3DG

Description

This exhibition runs from Thursday 17th October 2024 to Sunday 9th February 2025.


What have we here? Join renowned Guyanese-British artist Hew Locke as he turns his lens on the British Museum collection in a collaborative exhibition exploring histories of British imperial power.

In this groundbreaking new show, Locke (born 1959) explores, questions and challenges narratives of British imperialism through objects from the British Museum collection, alongside specially commissioned new works. Offering a fresh perspective on the British Museum's history and collection, which are closely tied to those of the British empire, Locke explores the messy and complex ways museums are implicated in these histories.

Locke, who was born in Edinburgh and spent his formative years in Georgetown, Guyana, focuses on Britain's historical interactions with Africa, India and the Caribbean, all of which had a significant impact on the history of Guyana – informing a very personal exploration of the objects on display. Using interventionist techniques, he reframes historical objects, from the earliest surviving drawings of Indigenous Americans by a European artist to a Guyanese Akawaio feather headdress.

The Watchers, newly commissioned sculptural works by Locke, form a central part of the exhibition, with figures observing visitors from vantage points around the exhibition, and spilling out into the Museum's Enlightenment gallery (Room 1).

This bold and exciting co-curated exhibition provides an opportunity to open up ongoing discussions around questions of history, ownership and identity.

Hew Locke: what have we here? is an exhibition created by Hew Locke and the British Museum, with the assistance of Indra Khanna.

Prices

Standard Ticket: £16

Contact and Booking Details

More information at this website.

Upcoming Dates

This exhibition runs from Thursday 17th October 2024 to Sunday 9th February 2025.

Forthcoming dates:

Sun 9th Feb 2025 
(10:00am to 5:00pm)

Disclaimer

The information and prices in this listing are presumed to be correct at the time of publishing, but please always check with the venue before making a special trip.

All images are supplied by the exhibition organiser.

British Museum
Great Russell Street
London
WC1B 3DG

Map

This exhibition runs from Thursday 17th October 2024 to Sunday 9th February 2025.

This event runs over several days/weeks. Dates include:

October 2024

November 2024

December 2024

January 2025

February 2025