The Legacy of Colonialism Haunts Hew Locke’s Era-Defying Flotilla
How people, capital, cargo, and ideas traverse the globe has long been central to Hew Locke's work. Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article The Legacy of Colonialism Haunts Hew Locke’s Era-Defying Flotilla appeared first on Colossal .
The Hew Locke exhibition "The Wanderers" at P·P·O·W in New York delves into the enduring consequences of colonialism through a series of miniature ships and lavish sculptures. Locke's practice centers on geographically bound objects, exploring the far-reaching impacts of empire, which extend far beyond any specific era or location.
The flotilla, hanging from the gallery ceiling, brings together a diverse collection of boats, from tankers and fishing vessels to towering galleons, each adorned with tiny pennants, foliage, and colorful paint. These ships, with their histories embedded in global trade and exploitation, sail towards an undetermined future, carrying the legacies of their pasts.
The artist's use of Parian ware, a porcelain popular in the 19th century, for his lavish busts of historical figures like Queen Victoria and George Washington, laden with glittering adornments and tiny skeletons, further underscores the themes of conquest and the desire for control and wealth. These figures are haunted by death and burdened by the literal weight of history.
The exhibition, which runs through October 24, invites viewers to contemplate the persistent impact of colonialism and the lingering ghosts of its legacy.
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