Out of Many One Caribbean: Delving Deeper into Our Collections

There are arguably over two-thousand objects in the V&A collection with a relationship to the Caribbean outside the parameters of enslavement. The event takes a modern and contemporary gaze giving voice to objects, some made, others acquired, after the turn of the 20th century.  This is about acknowledging Caribbean and diaspora artists represented in the collection who over a long period of time have been overlooked and unacknowledged.

 

We also build on the Museum’s 2018 survey Out of Many One Caribbean (OMOC), compiled by a PhD research intern who sourced over six-hundred objects with connections to the Caribbean on Explore the Collections, the public access to V&A objects online. 

 

The Museum has no dedicated space for this collection but has an enthusiastic and knowledgeable group of recently appointed curators from the African Caribbean diaspora who are investing time in developing collection strategies and sourcing relevant acquisitions as fine representative examples of Caribbean art, design, performance, and materials and techniques, with an emphasis on collecting from artists and designers living and working in the region.

 

This day of talks will be of interest to scholars in colleges and universities researching the history of material culture of the Caribbean; school teachers and young people wanting to better understand connections to the recent past, those investing time into their own research and stories; and the public who demonstrate pride knowing there is now a museum focus on their personal narratives, journeys, interests, and contributions, that begin to recognise the 'we' and the importance of delving deeper into 'our' lived experiences.

 

Detailed event programme to be announced.