The Facts
On November 6, 2026, Lisson Gallery and the Royal College of Art (RCA) announced a free one-day symposium titled 'Wild Woods Forlorn,' celebrating John Akomfrah's exhibition 'Arcadia' at the Natural History Museum and a forthcoming publication of the same name. The event will take place on November 26, 2026, at the Natural History Museum and RCA's Kensington campus in London, featuring a series of discussions with artists, curators, writers, and researchers. The programme includes an introduction to 'Arcadia' by David Lawson and Ossian Ward, a curators' panel with Zoé Whitley, Tarini Malik, and Sophie J Williamson, and a keynote conversation between John Akomfrah and film programmer Roisin Tapponi. The afternoon also includes a presentation by recipients of the John Akomfrah Research Fellowship.
The Signal
The symposium underscores the growing institutional and scholarly interest in Akomfrah's work, particularly his engagement with ecological and historical themes through film and installation. For collectors and curators, the event signals the importance of 'Arcadia' as a landmark exhibition and positions the forthcoming publication 'Wild Woods Forlorn' as a key resource for understanding his practice. The collaboration between Lisson Gallery, RCA, and the Natural History Museum also highlights a trend of cross-institutional programming that bridges contemporary art and natural history.
- Artists: John Akomfrah
- People: Ekow Eshun, Roisin Tapponi, David Lawson, Ossian Ward, Zoé Whitley, Tarini Malik, Sophie J Williamson, Chantal Faust
- Galleries: Lisson Gallery
- Museums: Natural History Museum, Royal College of Art
- Locations: London
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