Lecture- Collecting Things, Collecting People

Collecting Things, Collecting People
Theory
Dr. Clare Rose
Friday 4th November
Dr. Clare Rose did our lecture this week, she put textiles in context with history in a remarkably upbeat & stimulating way which meant everyone was focused and inspired by her words. When the lecture was over a group of us gathered to discuss it as we were still buzzing from the excitement of her talk.
The focus was on history of collecting around the world. She explained this in the context of Colonialism, Politics & Science. We also visited the British Museum (African & Wellcome galleries), to have a look at African textiles and how colonisation has influenced African art; also the Science and Health gallery to see how different countries deal with ill health and how the collection is presented to us via the museum.
Definition of cabinets (small locked rooms to keep valuables in) 15OO s- only the rich had the money to travel & kept ‘Cabinets of Curiosities’ to hold their collected artefacts from around the world (these objects gained value due to their scarcity). As Europeans traded with Africa Asia & the Orient, these cultures were introduced to weapons & disease which weakened their traditions.

Religion was made a political issue in the 1600s, as Europeans tried to spread their Christian beliefs. In 1850 England decided to try ruling countries rather than trade as this would give undeniable access to the raw materials for free (gold, ivory, cotton & manpower).
In 1897 Britain colonised Benin, their Royal palace was destroyed and ivory and bronze collected and bought by Museums and then exhibited in ways which exaggerated primitive qualities & humiliated their culture. Modern art (Picasso was inspiration from the masks of Benin)
I enjoyed this lecture enormously and look forward to the next four with her as she kept us alert and focused throughout the whole day, humouring us with historical jokes & stories.

British Museum (health gallery) cultural examination of topic life & death. This was really interesting the items displayed show how European cultures use drugs to help cure disease  in contrast to  the developing world cultures (Africa/Asia/South America), who perform rituals & believe in other worldly ideas (mind-body connection/ancestry)

Living & Dying worldwide:

Our textiles group around the European section- Cabinet of pills

Close up of pills

Also part of European section, inhalers for asthma

Communicating with spirits

Mexican Death festival information board

Burying the dead- put in ground at funeral (Northern Australia) to help them through their journey after death

The painting of mummy bundles - Peru

Mourning armour

Mourning armour worm in rituals

South Asia- Protecting children from danger

A textile wall hanging showing pregnant women queuing up for the contraceptive pill

Africa & Colonisation 'Benin art at the British museum'- looking at modern African art, pinpointing the differences in layout style & similarities.

Contemporary African textiles made using metal sheets from bottle necks

African steal, paint & wood mask

African masks

African masks

African textiles

Contemporary African wooden piece

Hats

Chair- Ebony, ivory, bone cotton. 19th century
Chair of power

Tree of life- made from guns and metal scraps