Exploring how materials shape art

A vivid and evocative new exhibition has launched at the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands featuring 37 Cayman artists focusing on the very materials they use to create their art. Entitled ‘Medium: The Materiality of Making’, this group exhibition explores the foundations of art and creative expression.

A bit like a musician knowing their instrument, an artist’s relationship with the, and knowledge of, the material they use - whether that is oils, acrylics, watercolours, canvas, paper, clay, or any other type of material - is key to the art they are seeking to produce.  Maia Muttoo, Head of Programmes at the National Gallery explained that the Medium exhibition returned to the building blocks of visual art by considering how core elements such as line, form, and colour are utilised to produce medium-specific work.

“The featured artworks offer a reflection on artistic method and technique, emphasising materials and materiality as integral facets of the creative process,” she explained. “From sinuous sculptural forms to the expressive capacity of colour rich painting and the traveling lines of charcoal or graphite —this body of work speaks to the innate relationship between artists and their chosen medium through a distinctly Caymanian cultural lens.”

The exhibition mainly comprises of works from the Gallery’s National Collection, and features drawing, painting, sculptural, installation and digital art by a raft of Cayman artists, each of whom employ medium and foundational techniques in compelling fashion, according to their unique voice. Featured artists include well-known names such as Wray Banker, Al Ebanks, Bendel Hydes, Gladwyn K. ‘Miss Lassie’ Bush and Horacio Esteban.

Medium: The Materiality of Making, curated by William Helfrecht with the support of the wider National Gallery team, is on display at National Gallery’s main site on Esterly Tibbetts Highway. Admission to the National Gallery and the exhibition is free. Opening times are Monday-Saturday, 10am-5pm. Closed Sundays and Public Holidays. For more information about the exhibition please email Maia Muttoo, Head of Programmes, at education@nationalgallery.org.ky  or visit https://www.nationalgallery.org.ky/whats-on/  to learn more.

The featured artists are as follows: James Adams, Kendra Ador, Gretchen Allen, Jawara Alleyne, Shane ‘Dready’ Aquârt, Jenna Arnold, Wray Banker, Babbity Barwick, Adigio Benitez, Cameron Bridgeman, David Bridgeman, Gladwyn K. ‘Miss Lassie’ Bush, John Doak, Al Ebanks, Davin Ebanks, Kaitlyn Elphinstone, Horacio Esteban, Bill Ferehawk & David Hartwell, Virigina Foster, Teresa Grimes, Bendel Hydes, Martina Jackson, John Reno Jackson, Nickola McCoy-Snell, Michael Mothen, Lizzie Powell, Miguel Powery, Yonier Powery, Brandon Saunders, Janine Scriven, Karoly Szücs, Simon Tatum, Cecilia Urdaneta, Avril Ward, C.E. Whitney, and Danielle Woolfe.

The Medium: The Materiality of Making exhibition opened on 25th June and runs until 12th November.