David Harewood: What’s in a Name
Ishan Gurung talks about Harewood House’s temporary exhibition “David Harewood: What’s in a Name” and the importance of it’s themes.
From 8th September, Harewood House has seen the addition of the temporary exhibition ‘David Harewood: What’s in a name?’, dedicated to celebrating renowned actor and writer David Harewood OBE. The greater part of the exhibition allows visitors to engage with a chronological narrative of his life detailing childhood anecdotes, struggles with racial identity, and accomplishments across his career. However, the main spectacle is a portrait of him commissioned for the Harewood House Missing Portrait series by Leeds-based photographer and filmmaker Ashley Karrell.
Harewood House’s Missing Portrait series is an initiative attached to their Open History project. The project aims to increase inclusivity and bring to light the stories of people of colour with ties to Harewood. In particular, the Missing Portrait series focuses on individuals of African-Caribbean heritage. Harewood is aware of the misfortunes caused by the expansion of the British Empire. At the expense of enslaved labourers and land, natural resources from indigenous communities across British rule generated incredible wealth rippling in vast waves of economic growth. The lasting effects of this practice are still observed today.
Through the exhibit, Harewood addresses its origins and highlights its construction by the Lascelles family. The family of prominent sugar merchants who acquired wealth through exploitation in the Caribbean during the 18th century. David Harewood, now famous for his long-standing career in the arts such as his casting as the first black actor to portray Othello at the National Theatre, realised through Harewood House his family’s connections to the Harewood plantations in Barbados and the history behind his name.
Throughout the exhibition, there is a clear thread between the themes of identity and self-discovery. From a poster of the 1960 film Spartacus to cricket memorabilia, we are permitted to revisit moments of his childhood as a boy eager to see representation for himself in characters on the screen or idols on the pitch. As you venture further into the house, there are discussions of mental health, psychosis and internal cultural conflict between preserving his racial identity and assimilating into his social environment. These conversations are executed with great sensitivity and emotionally tether visitors to David Harewood.
The result is satisfying as you witness his self-fulfilment, recognition and accolades at the end of the exhibit. This is consolidated by his portrait on Harewood House’s hallowed walls. Speaking on it himself, Harewood said:
“It is a day that is well overdue for me and my ancestors, a day that sees their efforts and hard work finally acknowledged. There are many other Harewoods in this house. I will be the only black Harewood. The portrait represents strength and resilience and a hopeful message of how you can overcome and succeed.”
David Harewood
All in all, David Harewood’s story is one of growth and humility, and the grand setting of Harewood House validates many stories of the forgotten and overlooked. The exhibition is indicative of promising future events at the house and further consolidates Harewood House as a must-see in Leeds.
David Harewood: What’s In A Name? is open until Sunday 22 October 2023. Entry to this limited-time exhibition is included with a day ticket (available from £14 – £18 online) or free with a membership.
