GLOBAL POSITIONS

"...it's not quality of goods or utility that matter, but movement, not where you are or what you have but where you come from, where you are going and the rate at which you are getting there." C.L.R. James

The expansion of political and commercial empires throughout history, has resulted in the movement of peoples, sometimes on a large scale, often by force, (as in the expulsion of the Jews from Palestine and later from Europe or the Slave trade out of Africa).

The term 'diaspora' refers to the transnational dispersion of peoples who, despite their geographic and historical distance, share common cultural, religious or ethnic roots. Originally referring to the dispersion of the Jews, it is now frequently used in relation to other displaced but related communities such as those of African-Caribbean, Palestinian, South Asian or Chinese origin.

People whose origins and ancestors lie beyond their country of residence may examine the routes and paths of their hybrid identities, searching for cultural anchors . However, the search for a single origin or essence invariably proves fruitless and instead reminds us that all cultures are actually formed through multiple fusions and migrations. Artist Mohini Chandra uses photographs and video to document and examine her diasporic family history.

Mohini Chandra - 'Travels in the New World 2' - 1997 (1)

• How might you 'think global, act local'?
• Map the geographic movements of your family.
• If you could make a piece of art to send around the world, what would it be and where would it go?
• In what ways are you a hybrid?
• What is the most remote place you've ever visited a) in person b) on the internet?

DISCUSS

RESEARCH

BRAINSTORM

DESCRIBE

COMPARE

Eugenio Dittborn, 'Airmail painting No. 95 (detail) -
The Thirteenth History of the Human Face: The Portals of H' - 1991. (1)

"...any 'home' culture is also the site of travel for others...one group's core is another's periphery."
David Morley

Global routes, first mapped out by nomadic peoples, then by explorers, religious crusaders and trading countries have more recently been demarcated by national and international corporations making communication links, exploring new markets and mapping travel destinations.

Like 'multiculturalism', the notion of ' 'globalism' is ambiguous, containing both positive and negative interpretations. The global village implies a cosy, small-world community, while globalisation suggests territorial and commercial expansion on a grand scale.

While the mileage between locations remains constant, the distances (like the time differences) are relative. From a central position everything is visible, everywhere within reach, but on the periphery the distances are magnified - it's a long way from the margins to the centre.

Chilean artist, Eugenio Dittborn, creates large, folding 'airmail paintings', which he sends from his home in Santiago to galleries around the word. Other artists whose work you could explore in relation to global migration, history and displacement are:

• Allan de Souza
• Keith Piper