As part of Black History Month, the Art Department have put together an extensive resource of work by a range of exciting contemporary black artists, several of whom directly engage with the history of colonisation or other aspects of black history and identity. In Art lessons this week, many students across different year groups have learned about some of these powerful and challenging works.
Associated with this, Ms Reynolds, Head of Art and Art History now discusses Antelope, the newly unveiled sculpture on the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar square by Samson Kambalu. Students also learned about this work, and you can read some of their responses to it below too.
A Simple Act of Defiance
I have to admit when I first past the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square two weeks ago from afar and saw the unassuming figurative sculpture of two hatted figures, I was underwhelmed and, on my way somewhere, I didn’t stop to investigate further. But shortly afterwards, on reading an article in The Guardian about the artist and the work, I changed my mind, and its latent power gripped me.
The artist, Milawian born, Samson Kambalu, associate professor of fine art at The Ruskin, Oxford University, based Antelope (the name of the sculpture) on a 1914 photograph he had found in a colonial archive in Oxford, of Baptist preacher and pan-Africanist John Chilembwe and European missionary John Chorley outside a church in Nyasaland, now Malawi.
His work consists of two sculptural portraits of each man rendered in what appears to be dark bronze within the tradition of heroic public sculpture. In actual fact, it is made from cast resin and bronze powder and created from 3D scans of live models who adopted the clothing and pose of those in the photograph. Each man stands with their back turned away from each other facing out – the sculpture of Chilembwe is larger than life size while that of John Chorley is life size. Each figure is similarly clad, in trousers, blazer, tie and wide brimmed hat. Chilembwe stares out stoically onto Nelson’s column, with his hands behind his back holding a bible, while Chorley looks onto the National Gallery.
It is only when one learns that Chilembwe was a prominent member of the resistance who stood up against colonial rule that the work can be fully appreciated.
The fact that he wore a hat is deeply significant, for at the time it was forbidden for Africans to wear a hat in the presence of the ruling colonisers. Once you become aware of this simple act of defiance by Chilembwe, that is now recorded in this sculpture set at the heart of the British establishment, it sears through time and place. It is the kind of act of resistance that recalls Rosa Parks refusing to leave her seat in the bus, Gandhi’s peaceful protests or even the recent protests in Iran.
For Chilembwe, the price was his execution the following year, after he had led an uprising against the British colonial rule. The sculpture, therefore, commemorates the bravery of those who stand up to oppression, upholding the values of freedom, respect, humanity and equality. It does so in a subtle, clever way and in doing so, makes its message hit home harder.
I first encountered this sculpture as a ‘passer by’ but like all great art, it is a work that draws you in and makes the viewer integral and contingent to its meaning – it makes you question your own role as ‘onlooker’ or even ‘bystander’ as you witness this specific moment of history and its legacy, challenging us all to re-evaluate the present as well as the past.
“I’m an artist’s artist. Antelope is a difficult sculpture. You have to think about it.” Samson Kambalu
Student responses:
“As you learn about it, the modest sculpture turns into an amazing act of resistance.” Evie, Year 7
“Antelope is a very powerful piece of art because it shows defiance as John Chilembwe defies one of the laws of this time. Antelope is about how laws should not oppress black people and it challenges us to think about how we treat others today.” Vincent, Year 7
“It is beautiful to see such an amazing moment displayed for the public and to understand the background.” Isabelle, Year 7
“I was surprised how deep it is and how sad the history behind it is. I am also impressed how hard John Chilembwe defied the racist laws and how sad the ending was when he died.” Toby, Year 7
Junior School Open Day
The next Alleyn's Junior School Open Event is from 1.30pm to 3pm on Wednesday 22 May 2024. There will be a Head's Talk at 1.40pm after which you will be offered a tour of the school with a pupil. There is no need to book a place at this Open Event - everyone is welcome.
Last updated on 20 05 24 at 09:12
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