Discover how historical collections are inspiring artists. Join British-Mauritian artist Shiraz Bayjoo and Liverpool Black Archive Hub founder Michelle Peterkin-Walker as they delve into the theme of Botanical Histories and Colonial Legacies.
Explore their research and practices in British botanical gardens, addressing questions on plant displacement, architectural developments, and reclaiming traditional knowledge. Bayjoo will present his archive research at Kew Gardens, and how this translates into installations ranging from photography printed on fabric and video art, to collaborating with French-Gabonese break-dancer Nicolas Faubert.
Peterkin-Walker will discuss her work with plants: from collaborating with Granby Winter Garden, to reclaiming, documenting, and archiving Afro-Diasporic narratives and heritage, spanning Jamaica and Liverpool. Having witnessed how plants bring communities together, Peterkin-Walker will share about local initiatives that have had a long-lasting impact in Liverpool.
They'll address questions related to the displacement of plants from Africa to Britain, the architectural developments these required, and the process of reclaiming traditional knowledge from Africa as a form of collective agency, and a way of addressing today's environmental issues.
This conversation will be hosted by art historian and Tate Curator, Christine Eyene.
There will be tea, coffee, fruit juice and delicious plant-based Afro Fusion food provided by Yamm Tree, all included in your tickets and available on a first come, first served basis. The food will include Ital soup with sprouted chickpeas and oyster mushrooms, smoky Jollof fonio and crispy yam ball stuffed with caramelised onion (all vegan and gluten free).
Image: Michelle Peterkin-Walker
Image: Eyonart
Meet the Artist is a series of in conversation events at Tate Liverpool + RIBA North themed around art, environment and architecture. Find out more about the next event in this series, Meet the Artist: RESOLVE Collective.