Free Liquid Land show brings Pacific history to Glasgow
A full-scale recreation of Jasmine Togo-Brisby’s ancestral home sits at the centre of Liquid Land, a free exhibition at Glasgow’s Gallery of Modern Art, just one of many cultural highlights alongside the free Glasgow Mela which traces histories of forced labour, home and displacement across the Pacific, Australia and wider conversations about the transatlantic slave trade.
The exhibition runs from Friday 5 June to Sunday 6 September 2026 at the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA), Royal Exchange Square, Glasgow G1 3AH. Entry is free, drop-in and no ticket is required. Visitors should check the venue’s opening times before travelling.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event | Jasmine Togo-Brisby – Liquid Land |
| Dates | Friday 5 June to Sunday 6 September 2026 |
| Venue | Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA), Glasgow |
| Address | Royal Exchange Square, Glasgow G1 3AH |
| Price | Free – drop-in, no ticket required |
| Best for | Visitors interested in contemporary art, history, sculpture, installation, photography and video |
A debut European solo exhibition at GoMA
Liquid Land marks the debut European solo exhibition by Australian South Sea Islander artist Jasmine Togo-Brisby. Glasgow Life describes the show as a response to the architectural history of GoMA, with new site-specific installations and sculptural works made for the gallery setting.
The exhibition is part of Glasgow International Festival of Contemporary Art and also forms part of the Glasgow 2026 Festival with support from Commonwealth Sport.
Togo-Brisby’s work spans sculpture, photography, installation and video. In Liquid Land, those disciplines are used to examine enslavement, domestic labour and the links between the Pacific, Australia and the broader history of exploitation connected to the transatlantic slave trade.
The history behind Liquid Land
A central thread in the exhibition is “blackbirding”, the nineteenth-century practice in which Pacific Islanders were deceived or kidnapped and forced to work on Australian sugar plantations. The source material for the exhibition describes how slave recruiters used optical deception, including flashes of light from mirrors, to draw people towards the water by exploiting cultural and spiritual beliefs.
Liquid Land uses beauty and intrigue deliberately, echoing the methods of trickery that were once used against Pacific Islanders. The result is not presented as a simple historical display, but as a body of contemporary art dealing with home, belonging, retreat, confinement and violence.
At the heart of the exhibition is a full-scale recreation of the artist’s ancestral home in Australia, originally built by her Ni-Vanuatu ancestors. The thatched hut is modelled on an archival family photograph and houses an oceanic, crow-feathered installation.
What visitors can expect inside the exhibition
Visitors should expect a multidisciplinary exhibition rather than a single-medium gallery show. Glasgow Life’s event listing highlights sculpture, photography, installation and video, with site-specific works created in relation to GoMA itself.
The venue and subject matter make this a strong choice for people interested in contemporary art that connects personal family history with colonial histories and labour exploitation. It may also appeal to visitors looking for a free cultural event in central Glasgow during the summer.
Because entry is drop-in, the exhibition can be planned around a short city-centre visit or combined with other time in the gallery. The listing does not give fixed exhibition session times, so visitors are directed to check GoMA opening times before going.
Access, cafe and travel details for GoMA
GoMA has accessible toilets on the lower ground floor. Guide and assistance dogs are welcome, and water bowls can be provided. A hearing loop is available, and the venue also provides a British Sign Language introduction to GoMA.
The source listing also notes wheelchair access, baby changing, baby feeding, a prayer room and free wifi. Glasgow Museums says GoMA is among the venues that have signed up to support Glasgow city centre becoming more autism-friendly.
The cafe is open every day during venue opening hours and serves hot and cold drinks, sandwiches and snacks.
For travel, GoMA is a short walk from both Glasgow Queen Street and Glasgow Central stations. The nearest subway station is Buchanan Street, and the gallery is less than a 10-minute walk from Buchanan Bus Station.
Source: Glasgow Life Events
Context & actions About this article
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This preview is based on the Glasgow Life listing for Jasmine Togo-Brisby - Liquid Land at GoMA.
- Confirmed the exhibition dates as 5 June to 6 September 2026.
- Checked that entry is listed as free, drop-in and no ticket required.
- Verified the venue as Gallery of Modern Art, Royal Exchange Square, Glasgow.
- Used only the access, cafe and transport details stated in the event listing.
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- Glasgow Life
- Scope
- Glasgow
- Updated
- 2026-08-16 09:29
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