Who is Free
Who is Free was a commissioning programme of Hull Time Based Arts to commemorate the Act of the British Parliament to abolish the transatlantic slave trade in 1807. The programme launched during Wilberforce Weekend 27th – 29th July 2007, in Hull, England.
The programme was inspired by artist Isaac Acheampong’s photographic postcard ‘Who is Free?’ which was part of a Tate Modern exhibition ‘Out of Time’ celebrating projects funded by the Millenium Commision. The image was part of a photographic documentary project by Isaac, exploring and comparing the lives of fishing communities in Hull and Elmina, Ghana.
In the photograph, a young boy turns back to look at the camera. Behind him are stacks of wooden fish trays or kits, one stack marked with numbers, another with the words Who Is Free, handpainted 15 times. Each repetition is more or less the same, and each subtly different. Is this the work of the artist?