Liverpool and the Black Atlantic facts for kids

Liverpool and the Black Atlantic was a special series of exhibitions and events held across the city of Liverpool. It was started by Tate Liverpool and explored how different cultures and continents are connected.

From January to April 2010, many art galleries and museums in Liverpool took part. These included Tate Liverpool, Bluecoat Chambers, Metal, FACT (which stands for Foundation for Art and Creative Technology), the Walker Art Gallery, the International Slavery Museum, and Sudley House. They all had shows and events about the "Black Atlantic" idea.

Exploring the Black Atlantic Theme

Tate Liverpool's Afro Modern Show

The Tate Liverpool exhibition was called Afro Modern: Journeys through the Black Atlantic. This show was inspired by a book from 1993 by Paul Gilroy. He created the term 'The Black Atlantic' to describe how black cultures mixed with other cultures around the Atlantic Ocean.

Afro Modern looked at the Atlantic Ocean as a huge network. It connected cultures from Africa, North America, South America, the Caribbean, and Europe. The exhibition showed how artists traveled across the Atlantic, both in real life and in their imaginations. It also highlighted how black artists were very important in shaping Modernism, a style of art from the early 20th century. Artists like Pablo Picasso, Romare Bearden, and Kara Walker had their work featured.

Walker Art Gallery's Atlantic Fire

The Walker Art Gallery presented Aubrey Williams: Atlantic Fire. Aubrey Williams was a painter whose life and interests connected with the Black Atlantic. His art explored big ideas that are important everywhere. This exhibition helped people see Williams as a major international artist. He was known for questioning the differences between figurative (realistic) and abstract (non-realistic) art.

The Bluecoat's Like Love – Part 2

At The Bluecoat, the exhibition was Sonia Boyce: Like Love – Part 2. This was an art installation using different types of media. It explored the idea of care, which is something everyone understands. Sonia Boyce also helped organize other art spaces at The Bluecoat. This celebrated her first exhibition there in 1985, called Black Skin/Bluecoat.

FACT's Promised Lands

FACT, the Foundation for Art and Creative Technology, showed Promised Lands. This piece was created by Edward George and Anna Piva. It was a performance that combined music, words, and images. It explored the idea of a 'promised land' for people who move to new places. The show looked at history, stories, and myths from five continents over five hundred years.

Metal's The Handmaiden

At Metal, the exhibition was Leo Asemota: The Handmaiden. Leo Asemota created an installation in the engine room of Edge Hill station. This artwork was part of his bigger project called The Ens Project. It explored the origins of 'The Handmaiden', a key character in his work, using myth, folklore, and contemporary history.

International Slavery Museum's Black Britannia

The International Slavery Museum featured Black Britannia. This exhibition displayed 30 portraits by photographer John Ferguson. It celebrated the many ways Black people have helped shape British culture and public life over the past few decades.

Sudley House's Jelly Mould Pavilions

At Sudley House, artist Lubaina Himid created Jelly Mould Pavilions. She used Sudley House as a starting point for a city-wide trail. Himid hand-painted jelly moulds to look like possible designs for public monuments. These monuments would remember people from the African Diaspora and their important contributions to the city of Liverpool.