Continued exhibits; exploring belonging, reading and benches!
In addition to the British Library, I couldn't not pop over the road to the amazing Wellcome Collection. The reading room is exquisite; scattered with people immersed in the world of their books or their studies on comfortably placed sofas, cushions or desks, surrounded by old books and paintings; arts and health. This is a way humans enjoy their learning and reading. Additionally, an exhibition downstairs explored our connection with our bodies. One particular piece by Yinka Shonibare called 'Refugee Astronaut III' was very impactful. It consists of an astronaut mannequin dressed in hastily gathered possessions, mid-stride as though struggling under the weight of it all, the suit made up of beautiful African patterns. The description poses the question about forced exile, displacement and an environmental breakdown. All incredibly important and harrowing aspects of many people's sense of 'belonging' that often gets explored in this feeling of Hiraeth. An example of this is the work of Eric Ngalle Charles, a Cameroon-born Wales-based writer, poet, and playwright.
1/19/20241 min read
Additionally, 'The Long Field' by Pamela Petro has arrived, I am excited to explore this further. I have been getting into reading 'Belonging' by Owen Eastwood. I have been learning about 'Whakapapa': a fundamental part of Māori culture that looks at genealogy and our ancestors as part of an interlinked chain, linking arms, to our land and tribes. When the sun rises and shines on us, it is our time, when it sets, it's the next person's. Essentially, it shows our belonging and togetherness is part of survival both literally and in our psychological state of mind...creating a sense of immortality in a mortal world...connecting us.
Plus, a BOOK BENCH!!!! Perfect combination of my bench and story explorations... ideas are beginning to link and form.
Access is also brilliant at the Wellcome Collection; there are always options for BSL interpreted videos, large print, audio description, magnified images... this, I know is not creative, but very helpful to see it done to excess and fully charged and accessible with ease.