Putting the colour back into Chiswick House
In 2023, artist Ayesha Weekes, working with historian Nadege Forde-Vidal, ran workshops with a group of young people from Hogarth Youth and Community Centre to carry out in-depth research into the distinctive colour themes that feature in Chiswick House & Gardens, tracing their African roots. Based on this research, the group created their own colour palettes in response to the insights gleaned from exploring the historical collection and in combination with their own personal, cultural and family histories.
The Black Chiswick through History project this year ran in tandem with the Heart of Design project, that looked at Asian and Middle Easter design influences in Chiswick House. Together, the programme offered an audience-focused creative response to these themes, working with Art Jar, artists Tanvi Kant and Leah Muwanga-Magoye and with local community groups HAAYA and The Rivercourt Project.
This process helped participants ‘put themselves into the frame’ as well as exploring artworks within the frames in the Chiswick House collection. The resulting artwork replicates the columns in the Upper Link room, bringing into colour the Egyptian, along with Asian and Middle Eastern designs that have inspired the decor throughout the House.
I think it is important to make links between the past and present, as well as to illuminate cultural history and commerce. It’s important for the people of the area to see themselves reflected in their environment, especially in an English country House that may not be immediately thought of as having such strong links to so many other cultures and places in the world.
Rachel Long, Creative Lead
What they created
Our community groups discovered that many of the design features of Chiswick House originated in Africa, created thousands of years before the Emperors of Rome, by the artisans of Ancient Egypt. Inspired by the sun, the sky, the Nile and its plants Egyptians passed on their skills and creativity to the Greeks and the Greeks, in turn, to the Romans. These African creations, including fluted columns, formed the basis of what we recognise today as classical architecture
Inspired by these insights, our community groups and young people added additional layers to the permanent interpretation available to visitors to Chiswick House. These included two interactive digital maps (Red & Green Rooms) created by the Chiswick School students, panels and anthology of creative writing written by HAY members, the Iznik inspired Islamic tiles produced by HAAYA members and the columns in the Upper link, redesigned in full colour by local young people.
Feedback and responses
The project, and the displays and interpretation that followed, generated a range of thoughtful responses from participants, artists and wider visitors.
Connecting the histories of Chiswick House to my heritage makes me feel more welcome and included in the space.
HAY member and participant
I thought it was great – a clever way to include different stories – I liked the historical feel of the panels.
Visitor feedback
I loved that it was local kids driving the initiative. I just thought it was fantastic and how proud they must be to see their work here like this.
Visitor feedback
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