Amartey Golding is a British artist whose practice explores themes of masculinity, nationhood, violence and vulnerability. Since 2023, Amartey has been working with groups of imprisoned men at HMP Altcourse in Fazakerley to make a suit of armour, creating the latest piece in his ongoing Chainmail series.
The chainmail garments in Amartey's Chainmail series (2015 - ongoing) symbolise what we do to protect ourselves or cope and the cost of that protection—for ourselves and others. Silent Knight is the largest suit of armour in the series, weighing over 200 kilos and constructed of more than 165,300 individual rings. Unlike the others, this suit stands as a character in its own right. Its form is reminiscent of a quilted duvet, clutched tight at the head, with only a minuscule gap from which to look out. The image of a knight in shining armour is a deeply embedded symbol in the British subconscious, evoking ideas of honour, class, service, violence and sacrifice. In this work, Amartey reimagines the suit of armour as a way to reflect on the tools some men use to navigate modern pressures and systems that preside over them.
Amartey and the participants wove individual chainmail rings whilst sitting together, sharing conversation and stories as they went. Back in his studio, Amartey and his team added what the participants had made into the suit, including their drawings they created during their time together. Painstakingly crafted together over hundreds of hours as an offering to the importance of the subject, this work is a reminder that time can never be taken back. Yet, the permanence of the chainmail means that for the men, their input will always be present and cannot be erased or taken away.
The accompanying soundscape uses excerpts from two well known songs, creating a place for reflection - a space of both judgement and salvation. Silent Knight explores relationships and separation, encouraging us to reflect on the complex realities faced by men, both personally and as part of society.