After. Inspired by an Atlas of Leprosy is a fascinating concept book by Lucy McKenzie that explores cultural appropriation and colonial narratives.

The work is an artistic exploration of the history of leprosy and its representation in a colonial context, inspired by a historical atlas documenting the disease.

McKenzie uses the format of an inventory of estate objects to question the idea of culture, authenticity and reproduction.Through the fictional provenances and sources she attributes to the objects, the artist challenges the boundaries of original and reproduction and criticizes the commodification of cultural artefacts. This work not only presents the history of the disease, but also explores how such historical narratives can be recontextualized within the framework of art and culture.

In After, McKenzie goes a step further in her exploration of how cultural symbols and historical narratives are reinterpreted through the lens of contemporary art. In doing so, she challenges the viewer to critically question the origins and meanings of the visual and material objects that populate our world.