The Exhibition

‘Re: New Wallace Collection #8: From Colonialism to Collecting’ presents a new body of work created by multi-disciplinary artist Robert Peters in response to the Wallace Collection. The exhibition frames the collection within the legacy of British Colonialism, and looks at contemporary colonisation of culture and decolonisation strategies within cultural organisations. The diverse artworks include 3D printed sculptures, reimagined miniatures, a series of ‘fAIk’ paintings, and an animation incorporating scanned sculptures from British museums and collections.

Robert Peters created the new body of work following a research residency at the Wallace Collection in London. This encompasses paintings and decorative art objects collected by Sir Richard Wallace and his predecessors. The artist’s research and work place the collection within the broader cultural discussion about decolonisation, and the re-interpretation of collections within major institutions and museums in present times. It also links it to contemporary colonisation of culture by AI and social media platforms.

‘Re: New Wallace Collection #8: From Colonialism to Collecting’ is the eight of a series of successful residency projects offered by R-Space to artists/makers to carry out research about/at the collection and create an innovative artistic response to it. These projects also highlight Sir Richard Wallace’s historical and cultural legacy, and his connection with Co. Antrim and Lisburn in particular, where he was the local MP and land-owner. 

Throughout the project, the artist was assisted by specialist advisor Anthea McWilliams. Both the research and the exhibition are supported by the National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland (principal funder).

About the artist

Robert Peters has over 30-year experience of working in the visual arts sector as an exhibiting artist, educator, curator, arts facility manager in Northern Ireland. In recent years, he has focussed his practice on exploring the history of Ireland and creating artistic responses to it. As an educator, he has worked with the Ulster Museum on the decolonisation project Global Voices, Local Choices, and he has also facilitated a wide range of community/participatory arts projects.