What is Transnational?
Transnational is a way of understanding, researching and curating which encourages the idea that art, artists and art histories are connected beyond their countries of origin. The word ‘transnational’ encourages us all to challenge and revise western-centric art histories by highlighting the global exchanges and flow of artists and ideas.
What do we do?
The Centre’s primary research outcome is rooted in our activities across Tate’s collection, displays, exhibitions and public programmes, with research fully integrated into the workings of the museum. We are committed to engaging in innovative ways of thinking about art, as well as ensuring that Tate and our research is accessible to all.
Over the next 5 years, our vision is to redefine our existing collection of art, and offer new perspectives on global art histories. Our research and programming will contribute to the reviewing and reframing of art histories. We will expand Tate’s existing commitment to developing its collections and programmes beyond Western Europe and North America.
What is planned?
The Centre’s research will inform future exhibitions, collection displays and acquisitions across all four Tate galleries. Our research will also be showcased on Tate's website and social channels.
We will also produce one major symposium and six smaller events each year, shaped by and feeding into our research priorities. The Centre will proactively seek partnerships in order to widen our networks, both within and beyond the UK.
What are our priorities?
Our research priorities will be guided by Tate’s curatorial teams, and the Centre’s adjunct curators working in the fields of indigeneity, Africa and the diaspora, and multiple modernisms. They will help to determine the strategic direction for future acquisitions, collection displays and exhibition programmes.
Looking at the concept of transnational from multiple points of view, some of the grounding questions that will shape the Centre’s first phase from 2019-2021 include:
How does the idea of transnational help us to rethink multiple art histories in such a way that they can replace a single western-centric canon?
How does the idea of transnational relate to our understanding of British art, history and identity?
What are the creative contributions enabled by migration and diaspora?
What can we learn from First Nation and indigenous artists when rethinking the role of nation states in relation to art?
How do multiple modernities and modernism intersect in the first half of the twentieth century?
