Jahnavi Inniss
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Black British History Quilt
Black people have made significant contributions to British society; however, these contributions have been left unrecognised. Upon doing extensive research into the different ways to showcase Black British history, I noticed frequent silent gaps in the timeline. I adapted the cultural technique of quilting to give visibility to the many unrecognised Black people who contributed to British society during 17th and 19th centuries.
In doing so I aimed to dismantle the ‘single story’ which suggests that Black people had only arrived in Britain after the wave of immigration following World War II in the late 1940s. I also aim to provide a platform of visibility which highlights the positive contributions that Black people have been making to British society for centuries.
In addition to creating my 5-metre-long quilt, I created an accompanying online directory where the audience can discover the stories of the people featured on the quilt as well as submit anybody else who they feel deserves recognition. The end of the quilt remains un-hemmed as the quilt remains incomplete, symbolising the many people that are yet to be discovered and added.
Black people have made significant contributions to British society; however, these contributions have been left unrecognised. Upon doing extensive research into the different ways to showcase Black British history, I noticed frequent silent gaps in the timeline. I adapted the cultural technique of quilting to give visibility to the many unrecognised Black people who contributed to British society during 17th and 19th centuries.
In doing so I aimed to dismantle the ‘single story’ which suggests that Black people had only arrived in Britain after the wave of immigration following World War II in the late 1940s. I also aim to provide a platform of visibility which highlights the positive contributions that Black people have been making to British society for centuries.
In addition to creating my 5-metre-long quilt, I created an accompanying online directory where the audience can discover the stories of the people featured on the quilt as well as submit anybody else who they feel deserves recognition. The end of the quilt remains un-hemmed as the quilt remains incomplete, symbolising the many people that are yet to be discovered and added.
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Project Context
Quilt Directory and Submission
Making Process