Making Jamaica, Autograph ABP

At the end of the 19^th century, Jamaica was establishing itself as an industrious nation, rich in natural resources and already a desirable tourist destination. Post-emancipation Jamaica was a playground of vitality and spirit, and this new photography exhibition in Shoreditch wants to explore how a new image of the island was created through photography in the late 19th century.

Featuring more than 70 historical photographs, lantern slides and stereocards, Making Jamaica will run this spring at Autograph ABP, one of London’s lesser-known independent galleries.

Along with the original archival images, exhibited in London for the first time courtesy of the Caribbean Photo Archive, the work will be joined by new commissions from contemporary artist Ingrid Pollard.

In response to the archive, Pollard will bring her hand-tinting to five large-scale versions of the photographs in the collection, bringing 'a type of life to the images,' she says. The new commission will be titled The Valentines Days, after the original postcards by Valentines & Sons.

This is a free exhibition.