The World Reimagined

Leicester businesses celebrate a World Reimagined

You may have spotted colourful globes places around the city centre since August. They’re part of a national art education project that aims to transform our understanding of the transatlantic slave trade.

Local businesses are sponsoring the globes, with some still up for grabs for businesses to add their name to. Some of the Leicestershire organisations already sponsoring the globes are PPL PRS, BID Leicester, The Mighty Creatives, Leicester City Council, and Trucklink EU.

The World Reimagined brings a trail of 10 stunning globe sculptures to the city’s streets, each designed by a new or globally-recognised artist.

With themes such as ‘Mother Africa’ and ‘The Reality of Being Enslaved’, the fibreglass globes have been installed at locations including Leicester train station, the Clock Tower, the Highfields Centre and Victoria Park, where they’ll help to highlight the reality and impact of the transatlantic slave trade in enslaved Africans.

Deputy city mayor Cllr Piara Singh Clair said: “These impressive globe sculptures will not only provoke debate and help improve our understanding of the impact of the slave trade, but they will also bring a spectacular splash of colour and new interest to the streets of Leicester this summer.

“This is a good opportunity for our city to be part of a national art and educational project and we look forward to welcoming The World Reimagined to the city’s streets.”

Assistant city mayor Cllr Sue Hunter, who leads on work to tackle racism and disadvantage, said: “This national project will help improve our understanding of a dark period of history that is perhaps not talked about enough – and by learning about the mistakes of the past, we can ensure they aren’t repeated in the future.

“Today, Leicester’s diversity is its strength and I hope that this stunning trail of artworks will inspire us to come together and imagine a future where everyone is treated with dignity – and where equality, diversity and racial justice are universally cherished.”

One of the artists taking part in the project is Leicesterbased Jarvis Brookfield. Jarvis – who had never painted on a three-dimensional canvas before – relished the opportunity to work on a spherical shape.

“The sphere has so many connotations – evoking the earth, unity, love and life – that I loved the challenge of working with a globe for the first time,” he said.

“But as someone who is bi-racial, this project gave me an opportunity to be part of a collective effort to turn the atrocities inflicted by our extended family on our ancestors into something beautiful.

“Despite the tremendous difficulties experienced by our ancestors throughout history, the human spirit continues to persevere and to rise above adversity – and that’s what I wanted to communicate through my design.

“I hope my work will offer people an opportunity to reflect on the things that unite us, as opposed to what divides us, and I hope that all 10 globes will serve as a source of inspiration and learning for all the people who will be interacting with these works on the streets of Leicester.”

The globes can be found in Victoria Park, Leicester Museum & Art Gallery, Medway School, Highfields Centre, Orton Square, the Clock Tower, St Peter’s Square, Stephen Lawrence Research Centre, and Town Hall Square.

The World Reimagined will take place until October 31.

It will also bring art trails to Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool City Region, London and Swansea this summer – with a total of 250+ schools and colleges taking part, and 2m+ visitors expected to engage with the trails.

Businesses can visit theworldreimagined.org to find out more about how to get involved.