Carnival: The Early Years

This piece was commissioned by the Thelma Matilda Alves Foundation, a black mental health charity specifically for women of African or Caribbean descent. In honour of Windrush Day, the charity held an exhibition called the ‘Sounds and Stories from the Windrush’ where my piece was showcased along with other back artists. Carnival: The Early Years is a glimpse of what it was like in the first years of the festival and a reflection of why it even began. During the first years of the celebration, Carnival was an embrace and celebration of culture but also an escape from the overt racism and violence that plagued the UK at that time. I wanted to focus on the positive and communal spirit of carnival whilst also highlighting its historical significance and in doing so, took inspiration from stained glass window; an art form historically used to portray historical scenes.