Pan-Africanism in London, the health benefits of art, Barbara Hepworth

Pan-Africanism in London, the health benefits of art, Barbara Hepworth

From The Week in Art by The Art Newspaper

June 11, 2026 · 58 min

About this episode

This episode discusses the exhibition Project a Black Planet, the health benefits of art through Daisy Fancourt's research, and features Barbara Hepworth's work.

The exhibition Project a Black Planet: The Art and Culture of Panafrica began its life at the Art Institute of Chicago before travelling to Museu d’art contemporani de Barcelona (Macba) in Barcelona and now to the Barbican in London, in each case changing in relation to the particular circumstances of its location. One of the show’s curators is Elvira Dyangani Ose, the director of the Barcelona museum, and Ben Luke speaks to her about the show. Among the books shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction in the UK, which was awarded this week, is Daisy Fancourt’s Art Cure: The Science of How the Arts Transform Our Health. Ben discusses her research and how it can be implemented. And this episode’s Work of the Week is Sculpture with Colour (Oval Form) Pale Blue and Red (1943), by Barbara Hepworth. It features in Hepworth in Colour, a new exhibition at the Courtauld Gallery in London, and The Art Newspaper’s digital editor, Alexander Morrison, speaks to the show’s curator, Alexandra Gerstein, about the work. Project a Black Planet: The Art and Culture of Panafrica, Barbican Art Gallery, until 6 September. To find out more about the wider events across the Barbican visit the…

People in this episode

Host: Ben Luke

Guest: Elvira Dyangani Ose

Topics covered

  • Pan-Africanism
  • health benefits of art
  • Barbara Hepworth
  • art exhibitions
  • cultural discussions

Keywords

  • Pan-Africanism
  • art health benefits
  • Barbara Hepworth
  • art exhibitions
  • Daisy Fancourt

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Art Institute of Chicago, Museu d’art contemporani de Barcelona, Barbican Art Gallery, Courtauld Gallery

Products: Art Cure: The Science of How the Arts Transform Our Health

Books & works: Sculpture with Colour (Oval Form) Pale Blue and Red

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