New art show gives artists a voice

By Lindsey Turnbull

Last week we heard about the National Gallery’s new exhibition, its fourth Biennial entitled Archipelago. Spread over a wide number of venues spanning all three islands, this important exhibition features artistic works by numerous artists. The National Gallery’s Head of Programmes, Maia Muttoo, gave some background as to how the artwork was chosen from the submissions the jury received. The jury, comprised of co -curators Joseph L. Underwood and Davin Ebanks, as well as curator Kerri-Anne Chisholm, had to consider the technical side of the art that had been produced, specifically, whether the artwork had been made to a high standard. They also had to think about the spaces where the artwork would be exhibited and the flow of the exhibition as a whole – particularly given the number of locations over which the exhibition is set, and also whether the spaces had the capability to host the artwork, when thinking in terms of installations and interactive artwork, for example.

Wide collection of voices

The submissions came from a wide cross section of artists, from well-established and well-known artists, to those who were producing art but who hadn’t exhibited before, to students starting out in their artistic careers.

“It was important to include as many voices as possible,” Ms Muttoo confirmed. “The goal was to produce a contemporary exhibition that showcased people responding to various different stimuli and representing many different voices.”

The show has included a wide variety of media, including digital, film, sculpture, interactive sculpture, performance art, charcoal, drawing, ceramics and etchings, among others.

“Martha Jackson, for example, has created a life-size Jenga sculpture entitled ‘Who Wins?’ that can be played, while Jo Austin’s pen and ink scroll, ‘Streetview’, is designed within a wooden frame which requires you turn a mechanism in order to see her drawings,” Ms Muttoo advised.

Prizes on offer

As well as the incredible opportunity the exhibition affords those who are featured, the Biennial also awards two prizes – the Bendel Hydes Award for best established artist and the Emerging Artist Award for best emerging artist. Ms Muttoo advised these will be announced early next year.

“Previous winners of the Bendel Hydes award include Nasaria Suckoo Chollette (2019), Davin Ebanks (2021), and Kaitlyn Elphinstone (2023), while recipients of the Emerging Artist Award include Paige Jordison (2019), Brandon Saunders (2021), and Alyssa Janae Gilbert (2023),” Ms Muttoo said.

The recipient of the Bendel Hydes Award is rewarded with a solo show at the National Gallery, while the Emerging Artist winner is awarded a contribution towards a training programme, which may take the form of a residency programme, for example.

“An important part of the Biennial is being able to contribute to the artists’ professional development and to continue to give back to the practice,” Ms Muttoo added.

Extensive reach

The co-curators Davin Ebanks and Joseph Underwood are both currently based overseas at Kent State University, with Mr Underwood specialising in biennial projects. It is anticipated that visitors to the exhibition will include those from overseas, thereby providing a global platform from which Caymanians can showcase their work and allowing Cayman’s unique stories to be shared both locally and globally.