{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O136603"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O136603/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O136603","accessionNumber":"E.1233-1995","objectType":"Print","titles":[{"title":"Spirit of the Carnival","type":"assigned by artist"}],"summaryDescription":"<i>Spirit of the Carnival</i> offers a political commentary on the ever-increasing police presence at London’s annual Notting Hill Carnival. A solo masquerader in masked raffia costume performs at the centre of the scene, penned in on every side by an advancing line of police officers in identikit uniform. A wall of riot shields forms a circle around the masked performer, through which a snarling dog has broken through. However, rather than being intimidated, the masquerader continues their energetic dance. The dazzling colours of their costume and their outstretched hands seem to suggest a form of resistance. Some writers have read Joseph’s image as a celebration of Black cultural and political resistance and resilience. It may also serve as a commentary on the way in which Carnival – and by extension the Black community – have become associated with criminality by the mainstream media.\r\n\r\nTam Joseph was born in Dominica in the Caribbean. He moved to London when a child and later studied at the Central School of Art and Slade School of Art. Joseph works as a painter, sculptor and graphic designer. This print reproduces an acrylic on canvas painting made by Joseph in 1984. The print was commissioned by the Paddington Print Shop for a portfolio of prints entitled 'Jouvert' by a variety of artists to celebrate the spirit of Carnival.","physicalDescription":"Colour screenprint showing masquerader in masked raffia costume encircled by police. Scene from Notting Hill Carnival","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Tam Joseph","id":"A15977"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"paper (fiber product)","id":"AAT14109"}],"techniques":[{"text":"screenprint","id":"x36290"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Screenprint","categories":[{"text":"Black History","id":"THES48989"},{"text":"Caribbean","id":"THES286921"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"none","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"WS002","id":"THES414748"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"print","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"No","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Great Britain","id":"x32019"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1988","earliest":"1988-01-01","latest":"1988-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"77","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"sheet","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"103","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"sheet","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"68","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"print","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"79","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"sheet","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"72/86 1988 SPIRIT OF THE CARNIVAL Tam Joseph","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Colour screenprint, 'Spirit of the Carnival', Tam Joseph, 1988","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[{"text":"Notting Hill","id":"x35687"}],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"carnival","id":"AAT69042"},{"text":"policemen","id":"AAT25867"},{"text":"mask","id":"x30067"}],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"masquerade","id":"x36732"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"[From leaflet] 'Tam Joseph (b.1947) on the other hand, uses the mask as the focal point in a totally unequivocal message on the relationship between racism, authority and power, in a screenprinted version of a painting made four years earlier.'","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}}],"partNumbers":["E.1233-1995"],"accessionNumberNum":"1233","accessionNumberPrefix":"E","accessionYear":1995,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"72/86","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-04-17","recordCreationDate":"2007-06-27","availableToBook":false}}