Scotland’s slavery past among Transatlantic Movements to be traced

Published On Wed 9 Jan 2019 by Grant Hill

Scotland’s involvement in the Atlantic slave trade is among the topics that will be explored by University of Dundee academics and local artists at a public debate next week.

‘Tracing Transatlantic Movements: Atlantic Journeys and Scottish-Caribbean Connections in Conversation’ is an interdisciplinary panel discussion taking place at the Baxter Suite, Tower Building on Tuesday 15 January. It accompanies ‘Moving Jamaica’, an exhibition at the University’s Lamb Gallery that contrasts photographs of 19^th century Jamaica with contemporary images of the island.

Presenters include Graham Fagen, of Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, Drs Peggy Brunache and Michael Morris, from the School of Humanities, and independent sound/video artist Carolyn Scott. Each panellist will outline the ways in which their work helps illustrate complex transatlantic relationships before a discussion with audience members takes place.

The panel will be chaired by Dr Susan Mains, Curator of Moving Jamaica and a Lecturer in Human Geography at the University, who said, “The exhibition serves as a starting point for further creative discussions about transatlantic identities, images and spaces. Panellists will be discussing Caribbean-Scottish connections by exploring whose voices are heard, which journeys are mapped, and the role of art in enabling new understandings of people and place.

“Recent debates revaluating Scottish involvement in Caribbean slavery, and contemporary discussions addressing the possibilities for transatlantic cultural and political collaboration, highlight the importance of documenting and engaging with diverse geographies and histories.”

Moving Jamaica features eye-catching photographs of Jamaica since the 1800s, including postcard-like scenes captured by the Dundee company Valentine & Sons and images taken by contemporary photographers Varun Baker and Stephen McLaren. The exhibition remains open at the Lamb Gallery until Saturday 19 January.

Tracing Transatlantic Movements: Atlantic Journeys and Scottish-Caribbean Connections in Conversation takes place from 6-7.30pm on Tuesday 15 January. The event will commence with an introduction to Moving Jamaica at Lamb Gallery before moving on to the presentations and discussion in the Baxter Suite.

The event is free and open to all. Places can be booked at https://uod.ac.uk/2TAYXGX.

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
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University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
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Email: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk