LR Vandy's 'Rise' Exhibition at Yorkshire Sculpture Park Explores Colonial Histories Through Rope Sculptures

LR Vandy, an artist based in London, is showcasing her inaugural solo museum exhibition titled 'Rise' at the Weston Gallery in Yorkshire Sculpture Park, which will be open until September 13. The exhibition features sculptures crafted from Manila rope and maritime materials, highlighting the connections between maritime history, colonialism, and slavery. Vandy's studio, situated in Chatham Historic Dockyard, Kent, creatively transforms everyday items such as ship's helms and wooden forms shaped like hulls. Her work focuses on the often-overlooked human toll of transportation and colonial trade, with rope symbolizing ties to enslavement and societal progress. Among the pieces displayed are 'Spinning a Yarn' (2025) and 'Transmitter' (2023). The title 'Rise' reflects themes of resilience, protest, and collective joy, explored through ritualistic dance. India Hobson captured the installation, while Vandy collaborates with October Gallery in London, emphasizing the social, economic, and political narratives embedded in her work.