During the Spice Wars in the 17th century, nutmeg was worth its weight in gold, and its trees grew only on the Moluccas Islands of Indonesia. One of the smallest of these islands, Rhun, was considered the first English overseas colony, and its people and resources were quickly war-torn by competing Western powers. Rhunhattan, Beatrice Glow’s installation in Wave Hill’s Sunroom Project Space, not only ruminates on a particular colonial history, but also brings into question the many trajectories which continue to develop out of complex networks of globalization. The aestheticizing of violence, colonialism and environmental exploitation only continue to morph and expand. Today, Manhattan is an economic capital of the world, while Rhun has disappeared from Western memory. Despite Dutch attempts, in 1665, to destroy Rhun’s remaining natural resources, nutmeg trees continue to grow on the island today.[1] Glow’s work is an effort to uncover these forgotten histories, as well as enduring legacies. In advance of the Artist’s TalkSaturday afternoon, October 24, in Glyndor Gallery, Danni Shen, Curatorial Fellow in Visual Arts, discussed Rhunhattan, cross-cultural narratives, art-making with spices, and more with Glow.

Read the interview here