About the Project
Inspired by the diverse cultural populations that make up Scotland today as well as in response to Scotland’s colonial history; artists Rachel Thibbotumunuwe and Tawona Sithole have created an artistic interrogation of colonial and post-colonial migration to Scotland.
Scotland has a loaded colonial history. The nation had prospered due to its position in the transatlantic slave trade notably the role of Glasgow merchants and plantation owners. Scotland’s role in the British Empire continued in the imperialism of African nations, India and parts of the Caribbean.
The absence of a permanent museum which specifically explores and depicts the Commonwealth diasporas in Scotland was all the more prevalent when the Commonwealth Games took place this summer. Creative producer Rhea Lewis, conceived this pop-up Migration Museum which creates a platform where the artists’ work seeks to foster discussions about creating a more permanent museum or centre of this kind, as well as exploring post-colonial migration in Scotland.
Working in close collaboration with the Glasgow Museums and Glasgow Museums Open Museum service, the artists have had exclusive access to their collections and have created new work in response to some of the artefacts. The artists’ work will be exhibited with other items from the Glasgow Museum’s Collections. There will be Museum assistants on site who will also have a couple of objects which members of the public can examine in more detail.
Scotland has a loaded colonial history. The nation had prospered due to its position in the transatlantic slave trade notably the role of Glasgow merchants and plantation owners. Scotland’s role in the British Empire continued in the imperialism of African nations, India and parts of the Caribbean.
The absence of a permanent museum which specifically explores and depicts the Commonwealth diasporas in Scotland was all the more prevalent when the Commonwealth Games took place this summer. Creative producer Rhea Lewis, conceived this pop-up Migration Museum which creates a platform where the artists’ work seeks to foster discussions about creating a more permanent museum or centre of this kind, as well as exploring post-colonial migration in Scotland.
Working in close collaboration with the Glasgow Museums and Glasgow Museums Open Museum service, the artists have had exclusive access to their collections and have created new work in response to some of the artefacts. The artists’ work will be exhibited with other items from the Glasgow Museum’s Collections. There will be Museum assistants on site who will also have a couple of objects which members of the public can examine in more detail.
Have a look at some of our research so far...
Here's a preview piece on Gareth Vile's blog