Sonia Boyce: CARMEN at Battersea Arts Centre, London
Following its world premiere in New York, Venice Biennale Golden Lion-winning artist Sonia Boyce DBE RA presents the European premiere of Carmen (2025). This powerful two-channel film honours the legacy of trailblazing Guyanese British actress Carmen Munroe, celebrating her profound impact on British cultural life as both an artist and activist.
The project was initially conceived in (2022) as part of a landmark royal commission marking the 75th anniversary of the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush on Britain's shores. The commission sought to honour pioneering members of the Windrush Generation who, like Munroe, arrived in Britain between (1948) and (1971) and played a pivotal role in post-war reconstruction.
During a portrait session, Boyce amassed a wealth of material that compelled a more expansive project. In Carmen (2025), Boyce delves deeply into Munroe’s life and career, acknowledging how she reshaped perceptions of Caribbean migrants in the UK through West End plays such as Lorraine Hansberry's ‘A Raisin in the Sun’, as well as iconic British television programmes including ‘Doctor Who: The Enemy of the World’ (1967 – 1968), ‘The Persuaders’ (1971 – 1972), and ‘Desmond's’ (1989 – 1994).
Part portrait and part historical document, the resulting two-screen installation reflects Boyce's deeply collaborative methodology. One screen lingers on Munroe as she watches a montage of her own performances, while the second displays significant milestones in her career. By interweaving fact, history, and personal anecdote, the work positions Munroe's own voice and perspective at its centre, illuminating her immense tenacity and prowess.
Carmen (2025) was made with support from Wandsworth Council as part of the Mayor of London's London Borough of Culture initiative. The exhibition at Battersea Arts Centre is preceded by a special screening and Q&A at World Heart Beat on 3 March (2026).
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Battersea Arts Centre
Lavender Hill
London,
SW11 5TN
United Kingdom