One work by Eddie Chambers, in the Arts Council Collection, (African Icons, 1987, mixed media on four panels, each 77.8 x 65 cm) was included in The 1980s: today's beginnings? The exhibition, took place at the Van Abbe museum in the Netherlands, from 16/04/2016 - 25/09/2016, included in the section - Thinking Back. A montage of Black Art in Britain, Curator: Nick Aikens, Van Abbemuseum.
Introduction to the section as follows:
In 1980s Britain a powerful conversation emerged amongst black artists, film makers, thinkers and institutions. It was the outcome of artists trying to understand their relationship towards Britain’s colonial legacy, an increasingly divisive contemporary politics and the space of culture within which ideas of resistance, expression and identity formation could coalesce. Thinking Back will present a number of key artworks, films and archival material from this pivotal moment in British culture outside the country for the first time.
Artists: John Akomfrah, Rasheed Araeen, Black Audio Film Collective, Sonia Boyce, Chila Burman, Eddie Chambers, Rotimi Fani-Kayode, Mona Hatoum, Lubaina Himid, Gavin Jantjes, Claudette Johnson, Isaac Julien, Keith Piper, Ingrid Pollard, Donald Rodney, Marlene Smith, Maud Sulter.
Archives: Blk Art Group Research Project, African-Caribbean, Asian & African Art in Britain Archive (Chelsea College of Arts Library, University of the Arts), The June Givanni Pan African Cinema Archive (including films by Imruh Bakari and Amani Naphtali), Making Histories Visible Archive (Centre of Contemporary Art at the University of Central Lancashire), The Stuart Hall Library, Iniva (Institute of International Visual Arts), London.
African Icons was made for Eddie Chambers' exhibition at Africa Centre, Covent Garden, Marcus Garvey: The Blackest Star, commemorating the birth of Marcus Garvey in 1887.