A new exhibition at Tate Britain will celebrate the work of Caribbean-British artists from the 1950s until the present day. Life Between Islands – which opens on December 1 – will shine a light on the art of the Caribbean diaspora alongside work by British artists whose artwork speaks of Caribbean heritage or Caribbean themes.
This expansive group show will feature over 40 artists and encompass four generations, including Grace Wales Bonner, Steve McQueen, Sonia Boyce, Alberta Whittle, and Chris Ofili to name but a few. Moving through the realms of painting, sculpture, photography, fashion design, music, and filmmaking, the exhibition will investigate the interrelationship between the Caribbean and Britain, highlighting the vast cultural contribution of the Caribbean-British community to postwar Britain and touching on themes of migration, memory, the legacy of empire, and community.
“This is a story specific to the Caribbean diasporic community in Britain, reflecting how Caribbean-British people have forged new identities, communities, and cultures in Britain, often in the face of hostility and discrimination, with stoicism, defiance, solidarity, imagination, creativity, care and joy,” writes Tate Britain director Alex Farquharson in the catalogue which will accompany the landmark show.
“It is also about how the Caribbean diaspora has influenced – syncretised, Caribbeanised, globalised – British culture and society in turn. Indeed, waves of popular music and subculture – ska, lovers rock, roots reggae, dub, trip-hop, drum and bass, grime, etc. – have been constantly evolving reminders of the Caribbeanisation of British culture and society, as have annual carnivals in Notting Hill and elsewhere in the country. In a more general sense, it is everyone’s story.”
Take a look at the gallery above for a glimpse of some of the artworks that will feature in this extraordinary exhibition.
Life Between Islands is at Tate Britain from December 1 2021 to April 3 2022. Dazed readers are eligible for an exclusive 2 for 1 ticket offer – book by November 30 2021 using the offer code DAZED241 to save £16.
Offer run time:
4 November – 30 November 2021
Terms and Conditions:
Dazed is a media partner for the forthcoming exhibition. Do make use of an exclusive two-for-one advanced ticket offer. Enter code: DAZED241 when booking online or call 020 7887 8888 and quote ‘DAZED241’. This offer is valid to use between Thursday November 4 2021 and end on Tuesday November 30 2021. Available on full price tickets to the Life Between Islands exhibition at Tate Britain between December 1 2021 and April 3 2022 (Tickets usually £16). This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other discounts or promotions. No cash alternatives. Subject to availability. The promoter reserves the right to cancel offers at any time. Ticket offer cannot be used for group bookings.