New exhibition brings exciting solo artist to The Box Plymouth

By: Jo Clarke
Added: 01 November 2024

‘Power doesn’t die, it reinvents itself’

Osman Yousefzada

A thought-provoking exhibition that asks questions about power, class and shared histories has just opened at The Box.

Osman Yousefzada – When will we be good enough? is a sculptural installation that cleverly combines new works by the artist with objects, images and film from The Box’s collections. The exhibition is on display in the beautiful St Luke’s church gallery on Tavistock Place and is free to visit. It will run until the end of Sunday 9 March.

Yousefzada is an artist, writer and social activist who works across a range of artforms. His craft-inspired practice draws on his South Asian heritage and merges personal experiences with fiction and storytelling to unpack themes that are relevant to everyone.

When will we be good enough? explores colonial histories and their impact and legacy on modern life – drawing parallels between historic sea routes and the places where modern underwater data cables are laid.

Visitors encounter a ‘flotilla’ of three boats laden with cargoes of tinned mangoes, plants and a poppy head, all of which have associations with colonialism and empire. Central to the installation is a carpet ‘island’ surrounded by three busts. Although they’re classical in form they are topped with the heads of three tech industry titans; challenging visitors to consider the age-old patterns of power and exploitation that endure in today’s digital age.

The exhibition marks the first time Yousefzada has combined contemporary sculpture with historic art and archival collections. When will we be good enough? includes carved and decorated clubs from New Guinea, Fiji and Southern Australia from The Box’s world cultures collection, a Common Ostrich Egg and mounted Golden Eagle from its natural history collection, and sculptures of Elizabeth I and Lord Byron from the art collection. They’re presented alongside a selection of clips from The Box’s film archive including footage of undersea cables being laid by the Anglo Belgian Corporation.

Ekow Eshun, writer, journalist, broadcaster and curator said:

“With When will we be good enough? Yousefzada…..offers a vision of a present day where power and capital and the urge to extract and dominate continue to operate along the same trade routes as in previous eras, and with the same destructive force.”

Victoria Pomery, CEO of The Box said:

"We are thrilled to present Osman Yousefzada's powerful work to audiences. This exhibition not only showcases an artist at the forefront of contemporary practice but also invites people to engage with critical conversations about shared histories and current global dynamics."

When will we be good enough? is supported by the Henry Moore Foundation and follows recent major solo presentations by Yousefzada at the 60th Venice Biennale and as part of the countdown to Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.

Osman Yousefzada – When will we be good enough? is on display until 9 March 2025. Exhibition opening hours are 10am-5pm Tuesday-Sunday and entry is free.