Tate Britain Exhibition

Artist and Empire

25 November 2015 – 10 April 2016

This autumn Tate Britain presents a major exhibition of art associated with the British Empire from the 16th century to the present day.

<p>George Stubbs Cheetah and Stag with Two Indians</p>

<p>Sidney Nolan Woman and Billabong 1957</p>

<p>The Singh Twins EnTWINed 2009 Museum of London</p>

Johan Zoffany
*Colonel Mordaunt’s Cock Match* (c.1784–6)
Tate

Elizabeth Butler (Lady Butler)
*The Remnants of an Army* (1879)
Tate

<p>Anonymous Delhi School, Mahadaji Sindhia entertaining a British naval officer and military officer with a Nautch c.1815-20</p>

Painting of a group of drummers — <p>Jamini Roy Santhal Drummers</p>

Front on portrait of Indian man staring straight ahead wearing an orange turban — <p>Rudolf Swoboda, Bakshiram 1886</p>

<p>Rudolf Swoboda Muhammad Hussain 1886</p>

Wooden sculpted bust of Queen Victoria — <p>Youruba or Saro, Nigeria Queen Victoria</p>

Nigerian leatherwork panel with illustrations of areoplanes, bicycle, transport and soldiers on metros — <p>Hausa, Northern Nigeria, Leatherwork panel depicting colonial scenes c1940</p>

<p>John Thomas The Siege of Enniskillen Castle 1593</p>

Portrait of a Captain wearing Indian dress — <p>James Sant Captain Colin Mackenzie c1842–1844</p>

John Griffiths
*A Sannyasi - A Religious Mendicant* (exhibited 1882)
Tate

Sir John Everett Millais, Bt
*The North-West Passage* (1874)
Tate

In 21st century Britain, ‘empire’ is highly provocative. Its histories of war, conquest and slavery are difficult and painful to address but its legacy is everywhere and affects us all. Artist and Empire brings together extraordinary and unexpected works to explore how artists from Britain and around the world have responded to the dramas, tragedies and experiences of the Empire.

Featuring a vast array of objects from collections across Britain, including maps, flags, paintings, photographs, sculptures and artefacts, the exhibition examines how the histories of the British Empire have shaped art past and present. Contemporary works within the exhibition suggest that the ramifications of the Empire are far from over.

The show raises questions about ownership, authorship and how the value and meanings of these diverse objects have changed through history, it also asks what they still mean to us today.

Historic works by artists such as Joshua Reynolds and George Stubbs are shown with objects including Indian miniatures and Maori artefacts, as well as contemporary works by Hew Locke and Sonia Boyce. Through this variety of artworks from a complex mix of traditions, locations and cultures the fragmented history of the Empire can be told.

Watch the short film

In this short film Shami Chakrabarti discusses Simon van de Passe's portrait of Pocahontas:

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Awe-inspiring, exciting and provocative, 5 stars
The Guardian
A genuinely interesting and absorbing show
Evening Standard
Mesmerising, 4 Stars
Time Out

Tate Britain

Millbank
London SW1P 4RG
Plan your visit

Dates

25 November 2015 – 10 April 2016

Watch the short film

Tate Britain

Dates

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