Slavs and Tatars: Samovar

The big sculpture “Samovar” by Slavs and Tatars lies on the side of the Hayward Gallery, reproducing an oversized samovar, a Russian invention still used today in domestic and communal settings. With the shape of a water boiler, teapot and tray, even if ironically enlarged like a mascot, the statue is an emblem to recount how the history of tea intertwines with cross-cultural exchanges and colonialism. The object also addresses the role of tea in British tradition and culture.