Leeds welcomes the World Reimagined Globe Trail

Norma Hutchinson Park, Chapeltown Globe – Liberation is Now Liberation is Now explores the richness and reality of Africa before the Transatlantic Slave Trade; the impact of the Slave Trade and Empire on Africa; and considers and celebrates the present and future of Africa. Artist: Rodell Warner Sponsor: SKY

Lovell Park, North Lane Globe – Earth’s Cradle Earth’s Cradle is about making real the experience of those people who were enslaved, from their capture and voyage to lives enslaved in different contexts, places and generations. Artist: Mussarat Rahman Sponsor: SKY

Merrion Centre Globe – Church Window of No Return Church Window of No Return brings to life how Britain was transformed as a result of the Transatlantic Slave Trade and the free labour of the enslaved. It explores the legacy of the Transatlantic Slave Trade in building the financial and trading power of Britain; strengthening the Church and the might of universities; and establishing dynastic influence and power. Artist: Marcia Brown Sponsor: SKY

Clay Pitt Lane Pocket Park Globe – Onion Seeds: Children of the Enterprise Onion Seeds: Children of the Enterprise shares the story of the Campaign for Abolition, its key events, heroes and allies. However, it also lays bare the full, messy motivations and process of abolition, which were not as pure as often represented. Artist: Gherdai Hassell Sponsor: Transunion

Cookridge Street Globe – The Seas Lament Becomes a Battle Cry This globe explores the impact on destination countries; their relationship with the ‘Mother Country’; key historical events in the relationship such as the Windrush; and the legacy of the Transatlantic Slave Trade on the UK’s role and reputation in the world. Artist: Shivanee Ramlochan Sponsor: SKY

Briggate Globe – Hold the Line! Echoes in the Present focuses on how the Transatlantic Slave Trade has present day negative consequences: systemic inequalities and injustice; entrenched racism and prejudices; and generational echoes with traumatic physical, behavioural, psychological and material consequences. Artist: Larry Amponsah Sponsor: Bloomberg

Victoria Arcade Globe – … And into the Future This globe looks to recognise how even when faced with adversity, cooperation and sacrifice within the Black community has led to the conquering of obstacles and barriers throughout history. From our darkest times in slavery and colonialism, to problems faced today, people of African descent have somehow managed to thrive, excel and ascend into a reimagined future. Artist: Kwaku Anokye Sponsor: Stephenson Group

Kirkgate Market Globe – Currents in Motion Currents in Motion celebrates the spirit and culture that, even in the face of incredible physical suffering, has endured, stayed vibrant and found expression across the world in music, art, food and so much more. Artist: Rosanna Gammon Sponsor: SKY

Corn Exchange Globe – Parallel Empires, Ancestral Kingdoms Parallel Empires, Ancestral Kingdoms recognises and honours the enslaved and their descendants who resisted, who succeeded, and who broke new ground. It will share the well-known and celebrated and shed light on untold legacies and events. Artist: Emmanuel Unaji Sponsor: HUB Residential

Meadow Lane Park Globe – Stitching and Mending Stitching and Mending gives us free rein to imagine the society we can create when we have a full understanding of our shared history; the place the UK can hold in the world when it acknowledges its past; and who we can be as people when we give full dignity to all. Artist: Ali Elly Sponsor: Vastint

What do you know about the transatlantic slave trade? It is a huge piece of British history that many people don’t seem to really understand, and that has to change.

This summer, a unique outdoor sculpture trail is on the streets of the City of Leeds to encourage visitors, workers and residents to take a journey of discovery to explore the many layers of our shared history, and how we can make racial justice a reality. Culminating in a sculpture trail across the UK, The World Reimagined initiative uses art to illuminate the history of the transatlantic slave trade, inviting us ‘to face our shared history with honesty, empathy and grace’.

The aim is to create a baseline of knowledge about the transatlantic slave trade in the UK. Although this historical event intersects with the family histories of many Black Britons, and is part of the national school curriculum, there are no specific guidelines about what is taught, meaning this can vary massively from one school to another. The result is that there is no national consensus on what happened, and no unified understanding of Britain’s role.

The World Reimagined which is supported by Leeds City Council aims to explore the city’s history in particular its links with the transatlantic trade of Enslaved Africans by bringing to life the reality and its impact by remembering the past and celebrating the spirt and culture that survived. The World Reimagined sees trails of large globe sculptures in cities across the UK, including Leeds, until October 2022. The trail will be the centre of a broader education and engagement programme, with hundreds of schools, community groups, sporting and cultural institutions taking part across the country.

“We asked ourselves, what can we do to make this more public and more discussed,” says Ashley Shaw Scott Adjaye, artistic director of The World Reimagined and global head of research at Adjaye Associates.

Encompassing art, education, community action and outreach, The World Reimagined is bringing facts, accounts, ideas and feelings around the enslavement and trafficking of people from Africa to the Caribbean by British slave traders. Ambassadors from across the spectrum are speaking about the transatlantic slave trade, the diaspora it created and where we are headed now. Among them are social entrepreneur Lee Lawrence, television presenter and producer Floella Benjamin, news presenter Gillian Joseph and actor Joseph Marcell.

Inspired by nine themes – including ‘Mother Africa’, ‘The Reality of Being Enslaved’, ‘Stolen Legacy: Rebirth of a Nation’, ‘Still We Rise’, and ‘Reimagine the Future’ – the public art component is set to be one of its most captivating aspects. Installed across the cities of Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, London and Swansea, more than 100 globes by different artists are being installed in a nationwide sculpture trail linked to stories and facts about the slave trade and its impact.

Yinka Shonibare conceptualised the idea of a reimagined world visualised as a globe. He believes that art is the perfect way to communicate this complex and emotive subject. The World Reimagined’s founding artist Yinka Shonibare said:

“With art, you can explore a multiplicity of dimensions – it takes in culture, history, debate. And I think it’s a great platform to actually engage the public as well, because people do tend to pay more attention than they would if you had just said something. So, it seems to me to be the perfect vehicle to express an important issue like this.”

Leeds has a unique story to tell, as a culturally vibrant city, enriched by its diversity and the cultural heritage of all its citizens. Together, we can learn from our past, understand our history and reimagine our future, creating a world that is one rooted in unity and diversity. Explore this story following a trail of 10 hand-painted globes across Leeds city centre and onwards to Chapeltown. Each globe has been painted by an artist to explore the diversity of our city and reimagine our past, present and future.

If you complete the trail by scanning all of the QR codes on the globes then you could be in for the chance of winning the World Reimagined book. At the end of the campaign, the Globe sculptures will be auctioned to raise funds that will create a grant-making programme for projects and organisations across the UK that work to make racial justice a reality.

Check out the full trail map online, and read more about the artists and their globes. Find out more at The World Reimagined website www.theworldreimagined.org