Join artist Elsa James and EMPIRE LINES podcast producer Jelena Sofronijevic for an insightful and challenging live-recorded conversation unpacking Britain’s colonial past and its lasting impact on Black lives today.

Elsa will be in conversation with Jelena Sofronijevic, curator, writer, and producer of the EMPIRE LINES podcast.

Together they’ll explore some of the key themes behind Elsa’s exhibition, Elsa James: It Should Not Be Forgotten, such as the psychological effects of transatlantic enslavement and the stories of Black Women in Essex like Mary Prince.

Their conversation will delve into how these events and individuals evoke the historical resilience and resistance of communities through contemporary artistic practice.

This is your chance to be part of the conversation, ask questions, share reactions and engage directly with the themes of the exhibition and the artist behind the works.

After the talk experience the show through the lens of the artist with an exclusive tour of the exhibition by Elsa James. 

This event is suitable for ages 16+.

In Conversation: Elsa James and EMPIRE LINES Podcast will be recorded live and later shared as an episode of the EMPIRE LINES podcast, available on all major streaming platforms.

It forms part of ongoing conversations between Elsa and Jelena, sparked by Elsa’s performative intervention and film, Living in the Wake of the Lust for Sugar, at the Museum of London Docklands in 2023.

You can listen to the first chapter on the EMPIRE LINES podcast now.

About EMPIRE LINES

Jelena Sofronijevic is a producer, curator, writer, and researcher, working at the intersections of cultural history, politics, and the arts.

Their independent curatorial projects include Invasion Ecology (2024), and they produce EMPIRE LINES, a podcast which uncovers the unexpected flows of empires through art.

They are also pursuing a practice-based PhD with Gray’s School of Art, curating exhibitions of Balkan and Yugoslavian/diasporic artists in British art collections.

Jelena’s full portfolio is available on their website and Instagram.

Please note: In Conversation: Elsa James and EMPIRE LINES Podcast, will be a recorded event.

By booking a ticket, you consent to any filming, photography, audio or digital capture of your image, or those in your care by EMPIRE LINES and Firstsite for future use as explained in our release forms.

If you’d prefer not to be recorded during the event, just let a member of our team know when you arrive.