Bermudian artist Gherdai Hassell has created a public sculpture commissioned by an art education project to transform how we understand the Transatlantic Slave Trade and its impact.

The World Reimagined has commissioned a series of globe structures in cities across the UK, including Leeds, where Ms Hassell’s sculpture is on display.

The art series is at the centre of a broader education and engagement programme involving hundreds of schools and community groups as well as sporting and cultural institutions around the country.

A spokesperson for the artist said: “Hassell’s sculpture titled Onion Seeds: Children of the Enterprise is inspired by an excerpt of Mind the Onion Seed by Bermudian author Nellie Musson, who tells the story of the Enterprise ship in Bermuda.

“The Enterprise was en route from Alexandria, Virginia, to Charleston, South Carolina, encountered a storm and washed on to Bermuda's harbour with cargo comprised of mainly mothers with suckling babies and children aged 5 or 6.

“More than 50 of the enslaved people on the ship were children, most of whom had been kidnapped by raiders from their Washington and Maryland plantation homes.”

The captain of the Enterprise was told that slavery had already been abolished in Bermuda and so those on board would be considered free. It emerged that the people were not listed in the ship’s manifest and a legal battle ensued.

The spokesperson added: “The captain argued that the people were not Bermudian, they were American and they ship was not intentionally in Bermuda waters since the boat was headed from one Northern US port to a Southern one.

“A Bermudian organisation, The Coloured Family Society, heard about the ship and advocated for their immediate release.

“All 78 persons on board the ship appeared in court and could decide for themselves if they wanted to remain in Bermuda or return to the ship. All chose freedom except one woman and her five children who chose to return to the US.”

Ms Hassell’s sculpture is in honour of the children of the Enterprise who chose freedom for themselves and became Bermudian by way of the ocean.

Hassell’s sculpture is on view in the city of Leeds At Clay Pitt Lane Pocket Park until October 13.