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Royal Museums Greenwich

Royal Museums Greenwich

di NMM Engagement Team

Arte Società e cultura Documentari

Stagione 3

Seeing Ourselves: Archives in Dialogue: Art, Diaspora, and Resistance - Nydia A. Swaby

In this episode, Sharon Walters speaks with Black feminist artist-researcher and curator Nydia A. Swaby about historic photograph albums from the Royal Museums Greenwich Caird collections. Recorded at the Brass Foundry in Woolwich, part of Royal Museums Greenwich, which houses extensive photographs and archival material, they share a rich conversation as the first and second practice-based Caird Research Fellows. Sharon reflects on following in Nydia’s footsteps and the start of ongoing collaborations. Nydia discusses how the images document Atlantic trade and everyday life, often portraying Black women in labour while also revealing powerful signifiers of resistance and important African narratives. She also shares insights from her book on Amy Ashwood Garvey and her ongoing artistic and research projects. Together, they consider how broader access to archives can expand conversations about African diasporic histories and Black feminist ways of seeing.

Seeing Ourselves: An Empowered View of History - Stella Dadzie

Sharon Walters sits down with Stella Dadzie to explore her artistic practice and approach to material that can be emotionally challenging. Stella Dadzie is a founding member of the Organisation of Women of African and Asian Descent and co-author of “The Heart of the Race”, a seminal history of black women in Britain. Her work spans education, advocacy, and artistic practice, often exploring themes of memory, identity, and social justice, making her approach to challenging materials both thoughtful and deeply human. The conversation takes us through a selection of images from the collections at Royal Museums Greenwich, offering insight into how Stella navigates potentially triggering content while maintaining care for her own wellbeing. Listeners will gain an intimate understanding of her creative process, her methods for engaging with difficult material, and her ongoing collaboration with Royal Museums Greenwich.

Seeing Ourselves: Caring for the Archive - Catherine E. McKinley

Sharon records inside the New York storage facilities of writer and curator Catherine E. McKinley, where she cares for a remarkable collection of more than 1,600 historical photographs from across Africa, many taken between the late 19th and mid-20th centuries. The deeply personal archive includes studio portraits, family photographs, vernacular images, and historical prints that trace everyday lives, migrations, and identities. Despite a few technical difficulties, the conversation highlights the collection as a space of preservation and remembrance. Sharon and Catherine reflect on how these images hold stories often absent from traditional archives, while McKinley also discusses her work exploring women’s history, identity, and self-representation through photography.

Stagione 2

Seeing Ourselves 2 - EP6 Representations and Misrepresentations

In this episode, Sharon is joined by Fiona Compton to discuss a number of different pieces from the museum collection. The discussion evokes conversations around propaganda, representation, beauty standards and violence. Be prepared to be taken on a rollercoaster of emotions in this episode, rounding the series off with a note on the importance of self-care. Fiona Compton @knowyourcaribbean Sharon Walters @london_artist1 Find out about the objects mentioned in the episode here

Seeing Ourselves 2 - EP5 Contemporary Art in the Collection

In this episode Sharon Walters, Serena Lee and Fiona Compton, visit pieces on display in the museum collections, including Yinka Shonibare’s ‘Ship in A Bottle’, Kehinde Wiley’s ‘Ship of Fools’ and the recent installation of the World Reimaged globes after the introduction through this podcast. This conversation highlights the importance of contemporary art by Black artists in predominantly white institutional spaces. Serena Lee @georgiandiaspora Fiona Compton @knowyourcaribbean Sharon Walters @london_artist1 Find out about the objects mentioned in the episode here

Seeing Ourselves 2 - EP4 The Black Person as Spectacle

Ekow Eshun and Serena Lee join Sharon to look at two pieces from the collection, namely ‘An engraving of Billy Walters’ and a ‘Caricature of Greenwich Pensioners’. Ideas around representation, authenticity and Blackness are explored in this episode. Interesting observations around reclaiming narratives are made, and captioned depictions from objects are challenged, thus providing fresh, new interpretations. Ekow Eshun @ekoweshun Serena Lee @georgiandiaspora Sharon Walters @london_artist1 Find out about the objects mentioned in the episode here

Seeing Ourselves 2 - EP3 Reimaginings and Joseph Bologne

In this episode, Sharon Walters is joined by Rudy Loewe and Jacob V Joyce, who are both queer visual artists and PHD students. This discussion explores the Monsier de St.George’ Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges portrait, and how ‘reimaginings’ can be a powerful way to engage with archives and collections. They talk about the cataloguing of objects, archives and the violence that can occur in dehumanising Black and marginalized people in institutions. The Huntley Archives and Saturday schools are also mentioned in this conversation and the impact they have more widely. Jacob V Joyce @jacobvjoyce Rudy Loewe @rudyloewe Sharon Walters @london_artist1 Find out about the objects mentioned in the episode here

Descendant Talks 2-Speaking through Stanzas ep 2

Emma and Yasmin in conversation with writer/poet performer, creative educator and project developer Zena Edwards and poet, DJ, workshop facilitator and co-founder of swimming collective, Swim Dem Crew Nathaniel Cole. Listen to their thoughts on everything from how their personal identity and heritage has influenced their work to stereotypes, climate issues and cultural belonging.

Seeing Ourselves 2 - EP2 The Black Female Body, Exploitation and Power

Trigger Warning! Themes of sexual violence and a disturbing nature. In this conversation, historian and filmmaker, Nadia Denton and podcast host and artist , Sharon Walters centre their discussion on a collection piece featuring Saartje (Sara) Baartman. Sara is a well-known figure who has a disturbing and tragic story. Nadia offers a response to Sara’s life story focussing on female power and exploitation in context to enslaved African’s. Nadia Denton @nadiajacintadenton Sharon Walters @london_artist1 Find out about the objects mentioned in the episode here

Descendant Talks 2- Their Spoken Words ep 1

The second series of Descendant Talks sees the Gen Z Collective in conversation with poets and artists who participated in Speak Pon Dem, a live music jam which celebrated the Spirit of Windrush 75. In this episode Nya'lay and Nathaniel talk to the actress, poet, author and dedicated youth worker, Maia Watkins and the writer and visual artist, Kareem Parkins-Brown to discover why they took part in this event, and how their personal identity and heritage has influenced their work. They take a look at where their inspiration comes from and what the legacy of being children of the diaspora means to them.

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