Reparations exhibition opens

“Art has always been a powerful tool for storytelling, resistance, and healing.” This sentiment was expressed by Andrea King, Director of Culture & Arts for Love and Living and curator of an art exhibition inspired by the CARICOM 10-Point Plan for Reparations.

The showcase, which opened Saturday night at Queen’s Park Gallery, was made possible by a grant from the Caribbean Culture Fund (CCF) that supports various art forms, including visual arts, photography, film, music, dance, theatre, and literature. 

King explained, “The fund is committed to supporting Caribbean cultural producers in their quest to create freely and innovatively, making the best possible use of cultural, technological, and creative resources available to them.” 

She explained, “There are two major purposes of this visual arts project, knowing and understanding the existence of the CARICOM 10-point plan and then bringing visual artists to the centre of this conversation on reparations.”

The fund promotes social and cultural justice and fosters intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding. She said, “The CCF specifically said they wanted this project to be successful simply because of the theme of reparations, and this was the only project in about 400 applications that dealt with this topic of reparations.”

Caribbean collaboration was a requirement. Jamaica and Trinidad were incorporated with exhibitions taking place in both countries. 

King added, “We want to encourage CARICOM to include the three-island exhibition for the CARIFESTA Visual Arts exhibition that is coming in August.”

King informed, “Participation in this exhibition was by open call, and approximately 25 artists submitted over 50 pieces. Their thoughts and comments on reparation at this time are on display. Their voice represents where we are in our quest for reparations. Theirs is a poignant statement from the voice of the people.”

She said, “I want to encourage teachers especially to bring their upper school students to see the exhibition and to encourage discussion on the theme. Our young people are the ones who will continue the quest and fight for reparations, and we have a responsibility to educate them in both serious and entertaining ways.”

Among those in attendance was Trevor Prescod, Chairman of the Barbados National Task Force on Reparations. He said, “Art must be at the centre of the revolutionary change that we have to make.”  He emphasised, “I believe that Art is significant, I believe for the transformation at this juncture in our history, you can’t write it just in the English language. Art has to be the greatest weapon for educational change in our society.”

Describing the exhibition, Prescod said “This is a mirror of a civilised people engaged in struggle for survival.” He praised the layout’s chronology, noting, “From the beginning of great people and then all of the different challenges that they have had and of the achievements that they have had, it is also a mirror of respect and love for each other.”

Barbados’ Ambassador to CARICOM, David Comissiong, was emotionally moved by the exhibition. He shared, “You get a real sense of a very troubled history.” He noted, “We have not used the arts in a serious way in our CARICOM reparations campaign. We have not put the champions of reparations in place — the artists — and so we really have to thank Andrea and her team for doing this.”

Commending the artists, Comissiong stated, “You artists have done a very good job of perceptively and sensitively examining that history.” He emphasised the importance of their role, asserting, “The artists have to play a critical role in helping us to articulate this reparations idea, to educate our people, and to bring them onboard.”

A discussion on reparations is set to take place February 26 at 6 p.m. at the same venue. The exhibition continues until March 1. (STT)