Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
How does the flyer/poster advertise the exhibition?
The exhibition was mostly advertised on social media with a picture of the exhibition along with a short paragraph detailing what the exhibition is about. The exhibition was part of Black History Month which was promoted more as a whole rather than individual events.
What is the suitability of the gallery space? How is the exhibition laid out?
The exhibition is relatively small as it is located on the South Balcony of the gallery. There is a maximum of 4 images per poster sheet which means that it isn’t too busy to look at. The exhibition is mostly writing with photographs spread throughout to help the viewer process the information.
How has the work been mounted? Is this appropriate for the work?
The images haven’t been mounted to foambords or framed. They have been printed onto the poster sheets along with all of the text. I think this is appropriate for the work as it it based off of a book do it reflects how the information and images were intended to be presented.
The images within the exhibition are all uncredited – the majority only have a date and/ or a location in the caption. The images were provided by Alan Crumlish, Jon Jardine, Charles McKean and The Mitchell Library.
Who did they make it for? Who is the audience?
The exhibition was made to educate people on Glasgow’s past – particularly involving black slaves and the slave trade. The exhibition would be visited by those who want to be educated more om this topic and those who feel strongly about the issues it discusses.
How does it make you feel?
The images make me feel quite solemn as they depict terrible things that have happened in the past in the country I have grown up in. Certain images make these feelings stronger such as the ones of Trongate and Broomielaw which are both places I pass multiple times a week. Although the exhibition is showing these horrible parts of history, they do make me feel hopeful for the future as times have changed since the 1700s and although racial problems are very much still an issue if there has been such changes so far then changes can still be made in the future if we keep fighting.
Does the work have a title? Does I make you feel differently?
The exhibition is titled ‘It Wisnae Us’. Using Scots slang in the title helps set the location in Scotland which makes the images more impactful as it shows the history of this country.
How would I describe it to someone later?
The exhibition is packed full of information about Scotland and the slave trade and dives deep into the historical event from every aspect. The visual aids along the way help highlight parts of the information and make it more memorable.
Does the photograph make you want to ask questions? What are these questions?
The photographs only act as a visual aid to highlight key information so most questions are answered with the information that then accompany.
Is the photograph valuable? How do you know?
The photographs are valuable as they show part of Scottish history. Most of the photographs have been preserved since the 1700s so their age alone makes them hold some sort of value.
Is the work for sale and who might buy it?
The work used to be for sale through Stephen Mullens book that was titled the same name (which is what the exhibition is based on) however the book is no longer available. If the images were for sale then a historian may purchase them to hell uncover more of world history.
What information is available about the artist/s?
As previously mentioned, the images are uncredited so there is no information about the artists available.
Who organised the exhibition and who selected the work?
The exhibition was organised by CRER, a charity that fights for racial equality in Scotland. The images were chosen by Jon Jardin, the designer of the original book, website and exhibition.
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