About the exhibition
23 Visual Artists (emerging to mid-career) from Trinidad & Tobago were selected to participate in this Public Art Programme launched on August 2022.
On the occasion of the 60th Anniversary of Independence for Trinidad & Tobago, Artists were asked to respond to the way in which freedom and notions of independence have been ever present throughout the rich story and layered (H)istories of Trinidad & Tobago.
The story of our Land – of Trinidad and Tobago – as we now know, begins with the existence of our First Peoples, the Amerindians, a nomadic people, who were in reverence of their natural environment, freely navigating and inhabiting our Caribbean islands for centuries – long before the arrival of Imperialism, subjugation and the Colonial Machine.
The question of Independence therefore, while tethered to a colonial past expands beyond the colonial era, and the Declaration of our Independence in 1962.
Independence is above all a story of agency, self-governance, human freedom and the multiple stories of Resilience, found in the rituals of our Ancestors, the creative genius of our foreparents, the lives of our everyday heroes and sheroes, past and present who “bend, but not break” in the face of structural oppression, and whose fearless devotion to freedom lives on.
The selected works in this Art Exhibition – designed for public access, interaction and collective well being – are an invitation for each one of us to remember the many details of our Trinbagonian History and trajectory: our mistakes AND our accomplishments, our moments of innovation and creativity. These 23 visual artists give us free reign to revisit our perspectives, to reinvent our realities, to dream and truly exist as we are – freely.
Participating artists:
Annelie Solis
Bianca Peake
Brian Ashing
Che Blenman
Danielle Boodoo Fortune
Gaby Beston Edwards
Joy Luk Pat
Keiba Jacob Mottley
Kerron John
Kriston Banfield
Marinna Shareef
Maya Cross Lovelace
Nicholas Huggins
Portia Subran
Rebecca Foster
Sabrina Charran
Sabrina Sinanan
Salisha Stanley
Shonari Richardson
Suelyn Choo
Teneka Mohammed
Timothy Greene
Vivien Elizabeth Armour
Curatorial statement
Adeline Gregoire
Curator, Artist
“ As Trinidad & Tobago, alongside the world’s population slowly returns to normalcy after 2 years of a traumatic covid-19 pandemic, this Public Art Exhibition was curated under the themes of: Resilience, Community healing and Regeneration, as a way to acknowledge our collective courage and tenacity throughout these difficult times. A number of sub-themes are also present, including the legacies of our Indigenous/ First peoples in T&T, Human-Nature Interconnectedness, Healing, Resilience, Memory, community and liberated, diverse futures for the citizens of Trinidad & Tobago.
What is our legacy of Independence? Also, What are the key moments in our Nation’s History which must be remembered? Who are our icons and trail blazers? What are our hopes and dreams for the future? How will we continue to create positive, life changing legacies for our nation?
These selected artworks will provide an opportunity for all citizens of Trinidad & Tobago to reflect on the many stories of our Independence and Resilience as well as our connection to the wider world.”
