Shadows and Light
This exhibition forms part of Southampton鈥檚 Mayflower 400 programme, marking the 400th anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower on its now famous journey to the New World. Curated by Emeritus Professor Stephen Foster MBE, it brings together works of contemporary art which relate to light as subject matter. Featuring photography, painting, drawing, sculpture and installation, the exhibition also includes works from Southampton鈥檚 fine art collection.
The exhibition title is taken from the Joni Mitchell song, Shadows and Light (1971), which declares that 鈥楨very picture has its shadows, And it has some source of light鈥�.鈥�. The illuminating properties of colonial settlements casts deep and dark shadows over the world they have helped to forge. The European settlers brought new diseases to the Wampanoag people, whose population had been decimated prior to the settlers鈥� arrival with the lives of half of the local indigenous population dying, probably from a smallpox epidemic. At the same time, just under half of the settlers died within the first year from the extremely harsh conditions, scurvy and other diseases. The Wampanoag formed a cautious alliance with the settlers, offering to help to grow and catch food, whilst the settlers offered protection against foes. This is generally seen as the start of America as an independent new nation.
The exhibition is not about the Mayflower voyage specifically, but rather is an analogy for the voyage and arrival of the settlers, using historic and modern works of art.
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This exhibition forms part of Southampton鈥檚 Mayflower 400 programme, marking the 400th anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower on its now famous journey to the New World. Curated by Emeritus Professor Stephen Foster MBE, it brings together works of contemporary art which relate to light as subject matter. Featuring photography, painting, drawing, sculpture and installation, the exhibition also includes works from Southampton鈥檚 fine art collection.
The exhibition title is taken from the Joni Mitchell song, Shadows and Light (1971), which declares that 鈥楨very picture has its shadows, And it has some source of light鈥�.鈥�. The illuminating properties of colonial settlements casts deep and dark shadows over the world they have helped to forge. The European settlers brought new diseases to the Wampanoag people, whose population had been decimated prior to the settlers鈥� arrival with the lives of half of the local indigenous population dying, probably from a smallpox epidemic. At the same time, just under half of the settlers died within the first year from the extremely harsh conditions, scurvy and other diseases. The Wampanoag formed a cautious alliance with the settlers, offering to help to grow and catch food, whilst the settlers offered protection against foes. This is generally seen as the start of America as an independent new nation.
The exhibition is not about the Mayflower voyage specifically, but rather is an analogy for the voyage and arrival of the settlers, using historic and modern works of art.
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