The Procession. Image taken by Guy Bell from The Times article

British-Guyanese artist Hew Locke’s big new commission for Tate Britain is a colourful procession set in the central gallery.

The Procession invites visitors to ‘reflect on the cycles of history, and the ebb and flow of cultures, people and finance and power.’ Tate Britain’s founder, Henry Tate made his money not just through the sugar trade, but through the legacy of slavery. The Procession unpacks some of this problematic history, as well as taking Caribbean carnival, the story of post-colonial trade, empire and the current environmental disaster in its stride. Past and present collide and intermingle, throwing up echoes and asides. A mix of Junkanoo and Guyanese Mashramani carnivals, protest and celebration, defiance and redress, The Procession is endlessly captivating and overwhelming.

Artist Hew Locke among his new work. Image taken by Guy Bell from The Guardian article

Hew Locke: The Procession is at the Duveen Galleries, Tate Britain, London, from 22 March to 22 January.

In 2019, Hew Locke gave a talk as part of the Crossing Cultures series: Hew Locke Talk – Friday 3rd May