Life Between Islands
Tate Britain
Issue 62 | March 2022
Agency
Stink Studios
Creative Team
Executive Creative Director Cam Temple Creative Director Justin Mulcahy Copywriter Justin Mulcahy Copywriter Jo Ring
Production Team
Design Director Viv Greywoode Production Director Hannah Lynd Senior Producer Caleigh Kimberley Producer Sarah Soldan Designer Mayl n Leita Producer Julieta Capparelli Senior Designer Julieta Bernstein Artworker John Dillon
Other Credits
Media Jack Arts
Date
February 2022
Background
Life Between Islands was an exhibition at Tate Britain of Caribbean-British art.
Featuring the work of over 40 artists, the gallery wanted the show to extend beyond its walls and into the heart of London’s Caribbean-British communities.
Idea
To celebrate the show, artists, community leaders and colleagues from Tate's staff network for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic employees were invited to share their stories about the places and spaces across London that meant the most to them.
Inspired by English Heritage’s Blue Plaque scheme, each story was told through a billboard, pasted-up poster, or floor vinyl sticker that provided exclusive anecdotes from each contributor in the places and spaces (such as clubs, bookshops, and community centres) where they happened.
The campaign tapped into the never-beforeheard recollections of Saturday school at Macbeth Centre by artist and filmmaker Sir Steve McQueen CBE, memories of Alexandra Palace Park by artist Ingrid Pollard and reminiscences of Stuart Hall Library by artist and designer Grace Wales Bonner.
Results
The exhibition is running at Tate Britain in Millbank, London, until April 3. The locations of the many stories and artworks are on Google Maps.
Our Thoughts
Finally it looks as if British culture is beginning to acknowledge not just the debt it owes to its many immigrant communities but the gifts as well. The Windrush generation got the NHS going and their children have made huge contributions to the economy. And music. So much great music. And now art. Not just Black art but British art in which you can see suffering and pity, cruelty and forgiveness, with photographs, canvases and video all combining to give an overwhelming impression of vitality and a future for all of us. If the advertising can drive as many people as possible to this exhibition it will be doing an entire country a favour.