Curation + Exhibition & Commissions

EMPIRE THROUGH THE LENS

Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Birmingham, 2022

The Empire through the Lens photography exhibition originated by Bristol Museums and Archives was shown at MAC, Birmingham in July 2022 to coincide with the hosting of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. This exhibition offered a multi-faceted look at the former British Empire and its impacts on people today, through a unique selection of still and moving images from Bristol Archives selected by members of the community, alongside new contemporary commissions by Birmingham-based artists. The exhibition and commissions prompted debates about decolonisation of culture and the UK’s relationships with the rest of the world exploring this timely subject matter for audiences during a major international sports event.

New commissions by Carla Bussitil, Faisal Hussain, Mahtab Hussain.

Exhibition developed by Bristol Museums. Funded by Arts Council England and Bristol City Council, and the National Cataloguing Grants Programme for Archives. 

Photos: Tegen Kimbley