Duppies and Caymanian storytelling traditions take the spotlight at the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands in its latest exhibition, ‘The Cauling: Where the Past Comes Forward to Greet You’, which runs through 31 May.
The Cauling features a collection of works assembled by Caymanian artist Nasaria Suckoo Chollette through the Cayman National Cultural Foundation’s artist-in-resident programme, according to a National Gallery description of the exhibition on its website.
The exhibition, which features 18 local artists, highlights “the rich folklore that makes up Cayman’s cultural tapestry”, the National Gallery said. “The Cauling explores the myriad of ways artists have been inspired by cultural superstitions, traditions, and beliefs around spirituality.”
Illustrator Michael Mothen told the Compass he was “honoured” to be a part of the exhibition for which he created three animated pieces – ‘Duppy Lure,’ ‘Past Curfew’ and ‘Carry Ya Away.’
“These pieces were based on stories provided by Mrs Nasaria from her research,” Mothen told the Compass. “They were all inspired by local folklore told by residents from various districts.”
The gallery explained: “Both expressive in their use of colour and compelling in their varied interpretations of the ‘duppy’ – a word commonly used across the Caribbean to refer to spirits or ghosts – the artists on display were invited to retell or reinterpret local stories through their unique visual languages. The resulting body of works emphasize the strong sense of community that characterises the Islands, as well as a shared desire to preserve the memories of yesteryear.”
Referencing a caul birth and its association with the spirit world, the title also alludes to the act of calling both people and stories together. With the variety of artistic disciplines and voices on display, the exhibition becomes a testament to the value of sharing wisdom, traditions, and memories.
“The best part of this exhibition for me is that the artists trusted me with their work,” Suckoo Chollette told the Compass. “It is a very honourable position to be in and I took it very seriously.”
She added, “After collecting the duppy stories and sharing them with the artists, like Duppy Residue, Wray Banker, Michael Mothen, Lorna Reid, and Friends and Needles Quilting Group, to name a few, they created works inspired by those stories.”
Suckoo Chollette noted that of the techniques and media used, some “were very contemporary and some were traditional. This is how our heritage can be collected, preserved and developed. We have everything we need for Cayman right here; there is no need to import or imitate. We are enough.”
Admission to the exhibition is free.
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