The work of 57 of Cayman’s contemporary artists is on display in the third Cayman Islands Biennial, a tri-island, multi-venue project which is held every two years.
The theme of this year’s exhibition, organised by the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands, with support from Butterfield Bank, is ‘Conversations with the Past – In the Present Tense’.
Artists were invited to respond to the ways in which history continues to shape their experiences in the present.
“Reflecting further on questions of personal and collective identity, the exhibition explores the multi-faceted nature of Caymanian culture from a variety of perspectives – foregrounding traditions that have endured to this day, as well as aspects of our heritage that have evolved over time,” the organisers stated in a press release.
“In turn, the featured artworks provide an illuminating portrait of our ever-changing society – initiating conversations around Caymanian history and its various social, political, and artistic legacies.”
Open call
Following an open call for participation that was circulated to artists across all three of the Cayman Islands and the Caymanian diaspora, the National Gallery received 136 submissions from 87 local artists.
The final selection, shortlisted through a rigorous juried process, includes work by 57 local artists in a wide variety of media: from performance, photography, and video, to painting, ceramics, textiles, sculpture, site-specific works, AI-generated image making, and installation art.
Given its expansive scale, this year’s biennial has been structured into three distinct sub-themes – ‘Identity and its Multiple Origins’, which is on view in the National Gallery’s Dart Auditorium Community Gallery; ‘Sites of Memory’, which is presented in the Gallery’s Lower Exhibition Hall; and ‘Cultural Mythologies’, which is displayed within a modern
annex space on the grounds of the Cayman National Cultural Foundation’s Mind’s Eye Cultural Centre in South Sound.
The artists’ works are also being displayed at seven other locations across the Cayman Islands, including the Owen Roberts International Airport, the Cayman Brac Museum, Cayman Brac Heritage House, the Little Cayman Museum, Gram Bella’s in North Side, John Gray High School, and Barkers National Park.
“Artwork has been positioned at each venue based on both the sub-themes and the context of the location,” says Natalie Urquhart, National Gallery director and chief curator. “For example, at the newly renovated annex space at Mind’s Eye – home of Gladwyn ‘Miss Lassie’ Bush’s 140-year old wattle and daub cottage – the work on display engages with historical themes and subject matter, and demonstrates the profound influence of Cayman’s cultural heritage as an ongoing source of inspiration for our contemporary artists”.
As part of the biennial events, on 13 June, the prestigious Bendel Hydes Award will be announced. This award will be presented to the top selected artist, while an Emerging Artist Award will be given to the most promising newcomer. Both awards have been selected by a jury comprising local and international arts professionals Leonard Dilbert, Davin Ebanks and Lisa Howie.
The project is supported by an extensive education programme of workshops, conversation circles (hosted at historic venues across all three islands), late-night opening events, and guided exhibition tours.
For a full list of workshops, lectures and events running throughout the biennial, which is on view until 29 Sept., as well as all the artists taking part, click here. To participate in the related school programme or book a tour, email [email protected].
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