Hew Locke review – exquisite objects raise the ghosts of colonialism

Ikon Gallery, Birmingham
The Scottish-Guyanese artist displays dozens of model boats alongside royal busts encrusted with the spoils of British exploits for a rich history of empireHew Locke peers through his glasses at a model boat hanging from the ceiling of Ikon Gallery. He is wearing blue medical gloves and is carefully applying the finishing touches to his exhibition, Here’s the Thing – a phrase he apparently uses a lot when describing his work. There are 46 boats evenly spaced