Join us for an illuminating session with Ekow Eshun, the acclaimed writer, curator and former broadcaster, as he discusses his groundbreaking new publication Black Earth Rising. In conversation with Katy Wickremesinghe, founder of The Wick, Eshun will explore the vital intersections between contemporary art, environmental justice, and colonial histories.

Black Earth Rising presents a powerful anthology of work by 100 leading artists of African diasporic, Latin American and Native American identity, featuring over 200 contemporary artworks that interrogate the complex relationships between race, climate crisis and colonialism. Through painting, sculpture, photography, installation and beyond, these works address urgent questions of land, presence, and social justice against the backdrop of European settlement of the New World. The book explores how artists navigate intertwined histories of forced migration and slavery, examines the environmental consequences of colonialism, and engages with the ongoing occupation of Native lands while celebrating how indigenous cultural practices and knowledge systems offer transformative perspectives on our relationship with the natural world.

The conversation will also span Eshun’s distinguished career as curator and broadcaster, from his transformative tenure as Director of the Institute of Contemporary Arts to his groundbreaking exhibitions and publications. Wickremesinghe will explore Eshun’s broader curatorial philosophy, his approach to amplifying underrepresented voices in contemporary art, and his ongoing work examining the intersections of culture, identity and social justice.

Described by Vogue as “the most inspired and inspiring curator in Britain,” Eshun brings his distinctive curatorial vision and scholarly insight to bear on some of the most pressing issues of our time. His previous works include In the Black Fantastic, Black Gold of the Sun, and TheTime is Always Now, and his writing has appeared in The New York Times, Financial Times, Guardian and Vogue.