Photograph of a poster in Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery

Guyanese-British artist Hew Locke created ‘Foreign Exchange’ for the Birmingham 2022 Festival. He reimagined the sculpture of Queen Victoria in the city centre, surrounding the bronze statue with a boat containing five smaller Queen Victorias. Each wears a helmet and carries a medal relating to an important colonial battle. Hew Locke described the statue ‘leading a battalion of other statues to represent the home nation throughout the Empire’. After the Festival he generously donated the five smaller Queen Victorias to the city.*

*Information from a signboard next to the Victorias

On a misty Sunday morning we travelled to Birmingham to visit the Staffordshire Hoard now that the museum is fully open again after refurbishment.

We found the archaeology theme interesting but were underwhelmed by what was on display. I think part of the problem is that the special items are not ’showcased’ and the lighting is quite dim casting the exhibits in shadows.

I did however enjoy the architecture of the building as seen from the upper floor.

Ozzy Osbourne