Soulscapes at Dulwich Picture Gallery

Last week to catch Soulscapes @DulwichGallery. Curator Lisa Anderson presents 21 artists from the African diaspora who challenge our perception of landscapes. Ends this Sunday June 2nd. Visit: https://www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/2024/february/soulscapes/

This exhibition is a delight, exploring how artists from Africa and its diaspora use landscape.

Curated by Lisa Anderson, director of the Black Cultural Archives, the show draws inspiration from the pandemic’s early days when many sought solace in London’s parks.

Historic British landscape paintings often exclude diverse narratives, with artists like Constable, Turner, and Poussin rarely depicting everyone.

Featuring contemporary artists from Africa and its diaspora, the exhibition reclaims the natural world and highlights emotional connections with surroundings.

Divided into four themes—Belonging, Memory, Joy, and Transformation—the show guides visitors through various perspectives on the landscape.

Standout works include Alain Joséphine’s “ST 131” (2020), contrasting the cool of Martinique’s forest with the heat from the blue sky.

Kimathi Mafafo’s “Unforeseen Journey of Self Discovery” (2020) depicts a woman emerging from a cocoon into a lush landscape.

Phoebe Boswell’s film, “I Dream of a Home I Cannot Know” (2023), shows daily life on an African beach, highlighting comfort in one’s environment.

Jermaine Francis’s “A Pleasant Land” questions reactions to a Black figure in a picturesque setting.

Harold Offeh’s “Body, Landscape and Memory” (2019) humorously yet pointedly features Black artists in a traditional English landscape.

Overall, the exhibition celebrates joy and encourages a contemplative and compassionate relationship with the environment.