Another external trip we had this semester was to the temporary Tate Liverpool + RIBA North, located in Mann Island on the docks alongside the Open Eye Gallery. I have always been an active visitor of the Tate Liverpool and sadly missed the external trip with our course. I visited the current exhibition alone the following week. 

Tate Liverpool is one of the UK’s most renowned art galleries, currently located at Riba North. Tate Liverpool opened in 1988, it was part of a vision to create a “Tate of the North,” showcasing modern and contemporary art outside London. The current exhibition is ‘The Plant That Stowed Away’, inspired by photographer Chris Shaw. I had previously visited the temporary Tate Liverpool prior to this exhibition and I wasn’t a huge fan of the layout or the exhibitions being shown but this exhibition really changed my mind. 

This exhibition explores the global movements of plants and people, starting in Liverpool. Through art in the Tate Collection, it traces connections between the trading history of cities like Liverpool and the global movements of plants and people. The display highlights how urban and natural environments have been transformed by industrialization, colonization, and migration. It is a mixed of art, photography and sculpture. One of the main features is the famous work by Henri Matisse’s ‘The Dancer’ (1949) and ‘Liverpool Quay’ by Moonlight’ by Atkinson Grimshaw.

“The watery swirl catches Matisse’s The Dancer in its undertow” Its watery swirl of connotations catches Matisse’s nearby The Dancer (1949) in the irresistible pull of its undertow, perhaps redressing the balance – in a small way – of slaves lost at sea, murdered, during this shameful period. – The Double Negative

Another highlight to the exhibition is Cristina de Middel’s Afro-futurist photography, Delaine Le Bas’s textile work, and Kader Attia’s film exploring our relationship with oil and sugar. Chris Shaw’s imagery draws attention to the resilience of nature amidst industrial landscapes, showcasing the beauty in overlooked places.

Also located within the gallery is currently showcasing Ile de France, a film by Shiraz Bayjoo that explores the diverse landscape and history of Mauritius, the artist’s home country. Through moving images, Bayjoo examines the lasting impact of colonialism, which remains visible across the island today. The film captures Mauritius’s rugged coastline, French graffiti in early settlements, overgrown sugar plantations, and dense forests, offering a poignant reflection on cultural memory and postcolonial identity.

Bayjoo’s multidisciplinary approach incorporates painting, photography, and video, often drawing from personal and public archives. His work invites viewers to trace the history of people and places, highlighting the resilience and transformation of communities in the face of historical challenges.

In conclusion, I really enjoyed both of these exhibitions, I really appreciated the use of space (as it’s a small building) and how they curated the works in the space with a use of very different mediums. My personal favourite part was the work ‘Liverpool Quay’ by Moonlight’ by Atkinson Grimshaw as it reminded me a lot to my childhood, my nan had a copy of this work (unknowingly) in her house and I realised after seeing it. Als, as a fan of Matisse’s work, I loved seeing his collage and analysing why everything in the exhibition fit together. 

Words: 538 

Bibliography

Pinnington, M., 2025. the-plant-that-stowed-away-reviewed. [Online] Available at: https://www.thedoublenegative.co.uk/2025/02/the-plant-that-stowed-away-reviewed/#:~:text=Its%20watery%20swirl%20of%20connotations,murdered%2C%20during%20this%20shameful%20period.

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tate, 2025. shiraz-bayjoo-ile-de-france. [Online] 
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tate, 2025. tate-liverpool. [Online] 
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