Why are there globes in Leeds? The stories behind the sculptures in The World Reimagined trail

The city of Leeds has become the stage for an art exhibition dedicated to uncovering racial injustice and promoting equality.

By Geha Pandey

Published 13th Sep 2022, 11:46 BST

The ten globe sculptures of ‘The World Reimagined’ form a trail across the city and are intended to get people - especially the young - to follow along and understand racial justice.

The exhibition has also toured Birmingham, Bristol, Leicester, Liverpool, Swansea and across London boroughs.

The World Reimagined hope that this project will “help us understand what it means to be British”.

Here’s the story behind each of the globes and where to find them:

The 10 globes form part of a trail around Leeds. The first, in Norma Hutchinson Park, Chapeltown, is titled 'Mother Africa - Liberation is Now'. This globe is a montage of paintings and drawings that Trinidadian artist Rodell Warner has created. It explores the reality of Africa before, during and after the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

1. The World Reimagined trail

The 10 globes form part of a trail around Leeds. The first, in Norma Hutchinson Park, Chapeltown, is titled 'Mother Africa - Liberation is Now'. This globe is a montage of paintings and drawings that Trinidadian artist Rodell Warner has created. It explores the reality of Africa before, during and after the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Photo: James Hardisty/Jonathan Gawthorpe

Community artist and poet Mussarat Rahman designed this globe to represent the experiences of people who were enslaved. It features heads representing lineage, guns representing power, and bullets representing brutality.

2. 'The Reality of Being Enslaved', Lovell Park

Community artist and poet Mussarat Rahman designed this globe to represent the experiences of people who were enslaved. It features heads representing lineage, guns representing power, and bullets representing brutality. Photo: James Hardisty

Exploring the Church’s role in slavery and society through Biblical references and stained-glass windows, Marcia Brown, an artist and teacher based in West Yorkshire, also hopes to show how Britain was transformed as a consequence of slavery.

3. 'Stolen Legacy: The Rebirth of a Nation', Merrion Centre

Exploring the Church’s role in slavery and society through Biblical references and stained-glass windows, Marcia Brown, an artist and teacher based in West Yorkshire, also hopes to show how Britain was transformed as a consequence of slavery. Photo: James Hardisty

This globe is in honour of the enslaved children on the ship The Enterprise, who fought for their freedom from the US in a legal battle that arose. It has been designed by Gherdai Hassell, a Bermudian-born artist, writer and storyteller who is currently based in Manchester.

4. 'Abolition & Emancipation', Claypit Lane

This globe is in honour of the enslaved children on the ship The Enterprise, who fought for their freedom from the US in a legal battle that arose. It has been designed by Gherdai Hassell, a Bermudian-born artist, writer and storyteller who is currently based in Manchester. Photo: James Hardisty

Trinidadian artist and writer Shivanee Ramlochan explores the relationship between host and home countries and key historical events in the relationship, such as the Windrush.

5. 'A Complex Triangle', Cookridge Street

Trinidadian artist and writer Shivanee Ramlochan explores the relationship between host and home countries and key historical events in the relationship, such as the Windrush. Photo: James Hardisty

This globe is to serve as a reminder of the fight to be free, how long it has taken, and the need to defend what has been attained so far. Artist Larry Amponsah is a multimedia artist who enjoys the political aspect of imagery and creation.

6. 'Echoes in the Present', Briggate

This globe is to serve as a reminder of the fight to be free, how long it has taken, and the need to defend what has been attained so far. Artist Larry Amponsah is a multimedia artist who enjoys the political aspect of imagery and creation. Photo: James Hardisty

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