Artist and Empire

Book excerpt: Organised by National Gallery Singapore in association with Tate Britain, Artist and Empire: (En)countering Colonial Legacies critically examines the effects of the British Empire through the prism of art. This catalogue accompanying the exhibition underscores the thought-provoking ways in which artist and Empire affect each other--artists negotiating historical conditions of colonialism in their work, and visual representation altering perceptions of the Empire. Essays by exhibition curators and external scholars situate the concept of Empire within broader socio-political discourse, while selected key artworks from the exhibition are paired with curatorial text that illumines concerns underpinning the works. A comprehensive, pull-out timeline spanning the 16th to 20th centuries charts the scope of activities undertaken in the name of the Empire, and contextualises the pursuits of artists from former colonies.