Barbara Walker

Shock And Awe.

Acknowledging an absence of representation over the past 100 years, the exhibition concentrates upon the contribution of Black servicemen and women to the British Armed Forces and war efforts from 1914 to the present day. It reflects upon contemporary British conflict alongside historical events of warfare involving Britain and the colonised nations of the British Empire. As the world commemorates the centenary of World War I, the body of work addresses the stories that remain largely untold.

Poignant and affecting, ‘Shock and Awe’ alludes to the physical and psychological impact of conflict, and on the often turbulent return to civilian life after war. Through the collection of large-scale drawings, Walker reflects upon the contributions of the British West Indies Regiment and the King’s African Rifles, among others, and addresses gender and the under-recognised role of servicewomen from the Caribbean and West India Regiments in World War II.
Shock and Awe was commissioned by mac birmingham and curated by Lynda Morris and Craig Ashley. It has been realised with support from the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, The John Feeney Charitable Trust and Arts Council England.
Photography by Chris Keenan and courtesy of Alan Cristea Gallery

The Big Secret I

2015, conte on paper,159 x 195cm

The Big Secret II

2015, conte on paper, 159 x 195 cm

The Big Secret III

2016, conte on paper, 159 x 195 cm

The Big Secret IV

2015,conte and white paint on paper, 159 x 195 cm

Untitled

2015,charcoal and white paint on paper, 159 x 126 cm

Buchenwald

2016,conte on paper, 159 x 195 cm

Tableau I

2016,graphite on paper and digital print,
70.5 x 54 cm

Tableau III

2016,graphite on paper and digital print, 70.5 x 54 cm

Tableau III

Detail

Charly

2016, conte on digital image, 96.5 x 70.5 cm

Josiah

2016,conte on digital image, 96.5 x 70.5 cm

Richard

2016, conte on digital image, 96.5 x 70.5 cm

Tableau IV

Diptych,2016, graphite on paper and digital print,
70.5 x 54 cm

Tableau IV

Diptych,2016, graphite on paper and digital print

Tableau IV

Detail

Tableau II

2016, graphite on digital print, 70.5 x 54 cm

Part of a Place

2016, graphite on embossed paper, 42 x 50 cm

Exotic Detail in the Margin #2

2017, graphite on embossed paper, 51 x 61 cm

Parade

2018, graphite on embossed paper, 51 x 61 cm

Parade II

2018, graphite on embossed paper, 51 x 61 cm

Parade III

2017, graphite on embossed paper, 51 x 61 cm

Flags

2018, graphite on embossed paper, 63x 46 cm

All The Kings Men

2018, graphite on embossed paper, 51 x 61 cm

Untitled

2018,graphite on embossed paper, 63×46 cm

Backdrop

2018, graphite on embossed paper, 61x 47cm

Backdrop II

2020 graphite on embossed paper, 61 x 47cm

I Was There,I

2018, ink,gold leaf, velum and tracing paper on digital media, 48 x 35.5 cm

I Was There,II

2018, ink, velum and tracing paper on digital media, 48 x 35.5 cm

I Was There,III

2018, ink,tracing paper on digital media, 48 x 35.5 cm

I Was There IV

2019, ink and tracing paper on digital media 48 x 35.5 cm

I Was There V

2019, ink and tracing paper on digital media.48 x 35.5 cm

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