Hew Locke: Raw Materials 27

Extracted from a conversation between Professor Dawn Adès FBA and artist Dr Hew Locke, in this essay Hew Locke discusses the historical backgrounds and personal experiences that went into the creation of his artwork Raw Materials 27. Acquired by the British Academy in 2024, and now hanging on its main staircase, the collaged work explores the colonial entanglements of Guyana, Hew Locke’s original homeland, and its post-colonial histories. From the foundation object of a share certificate, standing for 19th-century exploitation and mineral extraction, the discussion ranges from decay and appropriation to the potential for revival.