Dreading The Map: Recreating the Black presence in Europe

by bbrit project

Sonia E Barrett is a transformative artist whose works include “Dreading the Map,” a piece created by the “map-lective,” a group of Black and Brown women, in the Map Room of the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) in London.
The women shredded and braided archival maps of Europe, Africa and the Caribbean to create a new map using community practices of care. This symbolic act of weaving Black culture into the fabric of Europe allowed for recognition of Black presence, counteracting Eurocentric domination.
The work, which was commissioned by CARICUK, a collaboration of artists and educators, was unveiled in March 2021.
The film below goes behind the scenes of the project. It features an interview with the artist, as well as with CARICUK’s Principal Investigator (Dr Pat Noxolo), and Postdoctoral Fellow (Dr Tia-Monique Uzor. There are also interviews with Map-lective member Lea Bematol, and Royal Geographical Society staff, Dr Catherine Souch and Sarah Evans.
The installation is currently on view for free from until 15 June 2024, 10am–6pm at University College London, Urban Room, 1 Pool St, London E20 2AF ; email: urbanroom@ucl.ac.uk

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Dreading The Map: Recreating the Black presence in Europe

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