Mapping the black body

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Government Art Collection

Michael Forbes developed Mapping the Black Body in response to being asked “Why the black body?” in relation to sketches of proposed new work at Royal College of Art during his MA studies. He used mind mapping software to materialise theoretical and historical research alongside lived experiences, incorporating projections on the black body from all sectors of society. Terms included and put into relation with one another are, amongst many: conditioning, incarceration, strength, Afro Punk, knowledge, religion, Slave Trade, White spaces, consciousness, and desire. 

Working across sculpture, photography and installation, Forbes’s practice explores contemporary racial politics and migration, which are informed by contemporary debates on race, class, wealth, history, religion and his personal experience.

Having trained in Photography at Nottingham Trent University (BA, 1995–98), Michael Forbes first exhibited in 1997 at the Rencontres Internationales de la Photographie d’Arles. More recently, his work was included in the Diaspora Pavilion of the 2017 Venice Biennale, before returning to study for an MA in sculpture at the Royal College of Art in London (2018–20). The winner of Black Achievers Award for Arts, Media and Culture (2017), Forbes was further nominated for Paul Hamlyn Prize (2018) and selected for a residence at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park (2020–21).

Places

Subjects

Materials & Techniques

Alu-Dibond, print (as object name), UV print

Artist

Michael Forbes (1962 - )

Title

Mapping the black body

Edition

One of an edition of 5

Date

2019 - 2020

Medium

UV polar print mounted on dibond

Dimensions

height: 158.0 cm; width: 158 cm; depth: 0.4 cm

Acquisition

Purchased from the artist March 2021, through the Art XUK project 2020-21

Provenance

The artist; from whom purchased by UK Government Art Collection, 19 March 2021

GAC number

18916