This vibrant exhibition presented a compelling visual archive of Notting Hill Carnival from the late 1970s to the present, as documented by British-Jamaican photographer Ian Watts. His photographs capture the essence of Carnival’s dynamic cultural expressions, while challenging the persistent marginalisation of its significance within broader socio-political narratives.
A dedicated carnivalist, Watts emphasises the necessity of representing the authentic spirit of Notting Hill Carnival, known colloquially among locals as “The Grove”, in a context where its historical and economic contributions remain frequently underestimated. This display follows his seminal 1986 Arts Council-sponsored exhibition Masquerading – The Art of The Notting Hill Carnival, co-curated with David Bailey and Sunil Gupta. (September 2024)
