This image, the central canvas or Canvas Two from Levi Naidu-Mitchell’s triptych, takes place metaphorically in the Middle Passage, displaying the Mangrove tree: ‘A concrete yet unruly and powerful plant, able to adapt in the worst of conditions, it acts here as a symbol of Black resistance. The Mangrove thrives in adversity, its roots both below and above water, creating an ecosystem and a sanctuary.’
Levi’s triptych forms the central pages of our anthology Uprising & Resistance, produced in conjunction with Spread the Word and the Black Beyond Data Mellon Foundation funded project, Underwriting Souls. Her work like that of the poets and artist Jess Nash, responds to historical archives and objects from the Lloyd’s insurance market which show evidence of insurrection by enslaved people on board the ships of the Middle Passage and gives life and meaning to the their names, voices and experiences which have been silenced in the spaces of exchange and economic speculation.
For more information on the project:
https://www.spreadtheword.org.uk/projects/uprising-resistance/
Please note that we are currently awaiting a reprint of Uprising & Resistance, which should happen in the spring / early summer of 2024. To register your interest, please email Kate at enquiries@inksweatandtears.co.uk.
To buy its predecessor, Runaways London, produced in conjunction with Spread the Word and the University of Glasgow’s Runaway Slave in Britain Project, please go here.