Platter and Patter: Decolonising Narratives of the Brit

In July, we’re joined by researcher Dr Daisy Abbott who will discuss their project Decolonising Narratives of the British Empire Exhibition of 1938.

The Empire Exhibition of 1938 was a major international exposition held in Bellahouston Park, Glasgow. Its purpose was to showcase the achievements of the British Empire, promote trade, and strengthen imperial bonds. It attracted over 13 million visitors during its six-month duration, yet today there is so little evidence remaining that most Glaswegians are unaware of its existence.

Glasgow School of Art has produced significant research into this event, including 3D remodelling and interviews. In 2025, further research was undertaken with Glasgow communities to highlight the previously erased voices of marginalised peoples and investigate untold narratives about Glasgow’s heritage. We will showcase this research and demonstrate the importance of reassessing narratives of the Exhibition from a de-colonial perspective.

There will also the opportunity to see Awakening - an exhibition inspired by Dr Daisy Abbott’s 2024/2025 Decolonising the British Empire Exhibition of 1938 through Augmented Reality Narratives.

Image: South Cascade to MossPark Entrance - courtesy of Empire Exhibition courtesy of empireexhibition.com.