Falmouth artists feature in Royal Academy of Arts exhibition on art, colonialism and change

Works by esteemed Falmouth alumnus and Fellow Hew Locke OBE and Fine Art MA (Online) Module Leader Dr Mohini Chandra are currently on display at the Royal Academy of Arts (RA) in London.

The exhibition, entitled Entangled Pasts, 1768-now, presents over 100 contemporary and historical works as part of a conversational exhibition about art and its role in shaping narratives of empire, enslavement, resistance, abolition and colonialism - and crucially, how art may help to support future change.

The RA was founded over 250 years ago by a group of artists and architects and remains one of London's largest art institutions. Informed by the RA's ongoing research into its colonial past, Entangled Pasts, 1768-now has engaged with around 50 contemporary artists to explore themes of migration, exchange, artistic traditions, identity and belonging.

Since completing his BA in Fine Art at Falmouth College of Art (now Falmouth University) in 1988, Guyanese-British artist Hew Locke has found international acclaim. His work is represented in many collections including Tate, The National Trust, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, The Victoria & Albert Museum, The Imperial War Museum, The British Museum and The Henry Moore Institute, Leeds.

In June 2023 he was awarded an OBE in the King's Birthday Honours for Services to Art. He was also awarded a Fellowship by Falmouth University in 2023 - the highest university accolade conferred onto individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the creative sector.

On his piece - Armada (2017-2019) - featured in Entangled Pasts, 1768-now, Hew told us: "This piece is like a visual poem and includes customised models of contemporary and historically resonant vessels. A ship is a symbolic object; a vessel of the soul, a means of escape, and can represent both safety and danger. No crew are visible, as the boats themselves stand for crew and passengers. It references migration then and now, and empire and slavery.