Beating Back the Past:
Threads and Rhythms of Resistance

The exhibition "Beating Back the Past" at Gloucester Cathedral explored the legacy and impact of the transatlantic slave trade through textile art and visual storytelling.

As part of this impactful project, Rhyannan collaborated with Gloucester-based drum’n’bass artist and acclaimed MC Rider Shafique, whose work, along with British-Jamaican photographer Vanley Burke, highlighted the narratives of descendants of Caribbean enslaved people. Their contributions brought a deeply personal perspective to the exhibition.

Displayed in the Lady Chapel from September 7-30, 2024, the exhibition drew inspiration from the world's oldest surviving music manuscript of enslaved voices from Barbados. Rhyannan's textile pieces integrated her innovative shibori techniques, creating a dialogue between traditional craft and contemporary artistic expression. These works complemented Rider Shafique's powerful soundscapes and Vanley Burke's evocative photography, forming a cohesive narrative that bridged past and present.

Alongside the main exhibition, a community quilt project titled 'Belonging and Unbelonging' further explored Gloucester’s global influences. This collaborative effort celebrated cultural diversity while reflecting on themes of migration and identity.

A BBC interview with Rider and Vanley offers a further insight into their creative process and personal connection to the project.
Many thanks to Voices Gloucester whose hard work made this exhition and events possible.

Photography courtesy of Rhyannan Hall.

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LINOCUTTING, Bristol, 2024

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ERASER, Kogei Award, Toyama Japan 2021