Photo: Naming the Money by Lubaina Himid. © The artist.
One hundred life-sized painted figures by Lubaina Himid are set to go on display at the Hatton Gallery, Newcastle University from January 17 until March 13.
This entirely new collection, entitled Naming the Money, has been specially commissioned by the Hatton Gallery and is the largest cut-out installation yet undertaken by the artist.
Featuring 100 life-sized figures, painted, collaged and surrounded by an operatic soundtrack, the work explores issues of forgotten histories, race and identity.
Photo: Naming the Money by Lubaina Himid. © The artist.
Continuing along an artistic path she began in her earlier work, Lubaina Himid negotiates the terrain between European colonial history and contemporary cultural politics.
The painted figures, African slaves/servants dressed in sumptuous clothes designed to signify immense wealth, gather as if for a celebration, but have come to tell their story.
Photo: Naming the Money by Lubaina Himid. © The artist.
Outwardly they are painters, herbalists, shoe makers, dog trainers drummers, viol da gamba players, dancers and toy makers, but text on their backs reveals their original names and identities
Essentially Himid is a history painter and the work is an attempt to get to the bottom of the dilemma of losing identity, being saddled with another and having to somehow make sense of being alive in a world where you are invisible.
Over the last 20 years the artist has exhibited both in the UK and internationally with solo shows at Tate St Ives, Transmission in Glasgow, Chisenhale in London and Peg Alston in New York.
Photo: Naming the Money by Lubaina Himid. © The artist.
She represented Britain at the fifth Havana Biennale and has participated in group shows at the Studio Museum New York, Track 17 Los Angeles, the Fine Art Academy in Vienna and the Grazer Kunstverein.
Furthermore, she has work in several public collections including Tate, the V&A, the Arts Council, Birmingham City Art Gallery and the Harris Museum & Art Gallery in Preston.
This top exhibition has now been recreated in an imaginitive online project, click on this link to take a look.
