Renowned artist and filmmaker Steve McQueen has unveiled a new photographic series titled ‘These flowers have witnessed horrific things,’ which documents the flora of Grenada while reflecting on the island’s historical trauma. The project, featured in The Guardian, combines McQueen’s signature visual poetry with a poignant exploration of Grenada’s colonial legacy.
McQueen spent a summer on the Caribbean island capturing images of local plants, many of which are tied to Grenada’s complex history of slavery and colonialism. The series is part of a broader photobook that juxtaposes the island’s natural beauty with its painful past.
According to cultural analysts, McQueen’s work continues his long-standing engagement with themes of memory and historical injustice. The project has drawn attention from both art critics and historians, who note its unique approach to documenting postcolonial narratives through environmental imagery.
While no official statements have been released by McQueen’s studio, sources close to the project confirm that the photobook will include essays contextualizing the images within Grenada’s history. The series is expected to debut in exhibitions across Europe and North America later this year.