“(Dearly) Beloved” is a tribute, an act of memorialising, remembering and connecting with a difficult past. Inspired by the discovery of over 100 enslaved African bodies in the medieval rubbish dump of the Portuguese town Lagos, “(Dearly) Beloved” speaks to the  uncommemorated and absented members of our collective memory. 

 

Composed of acrylic formed by fire, the twisted figures echo human form and spirit, creating shifting shadows and refractions of sunlight over the course of a day. The ephemeral sculptures are forged in direct contrast to the heavy, permanent statues and celebrations of the slave traders featured in towns and cities throughout Europe.