Six shows to see in London during UK Black History Month

The Art Newspaper

‘Six shows to see in London during UK Black History Month’ 21 October 2022

Chinma Johnson-Nwosu

Simeon Barclay: In the Name of the Father, South London Gallery, until 27 November

Erected structures and doors, sculptures, moving image and neon light installations comprise Simeon Barclay latest institutional show, which is concerned with inheritance, both familial and cultural. Personal histories—such as his father’s work as a tailor and the artist’s former job as an industrial machinist—are woven together with shared cultural memories. These include the 1979 British cult movie Scum and the landscape and industrial past of Yorkshire (where the artist grew up). Sculptures also make reference to the legacy of art historical behemoths such as Joseph Beuys and Alexander Calder. With its allusions to Huddersfield’s social geography—including the infamous and exclusive nightclub Johnny’s—Barclay brings into focus questions about place, identity and inclusion.