The 1970s in Jamaica was a period of dramatic social and cultural change. The years following Independence saw Jamaicans contemplating and in many cases challenging the status quo. The artwork on display offers an unflinching perspective on the social unrest that marked the decade but also shows the growing influence of reggae music, Rastafari and Revivalist religious practises on society. The influence of more varied exposure to artistic trends such as abstraction are also evident in the work of artists who along with their contemporaries, sought to challenge their audiences’ expectations of Jamaican artists.
There was also an increased presence of the work of the Jamaican self-taught artists in the social domain due to exhibitions such as the Self-Taught Exhibition series staged by the Institute of Jamaica and culminating in the National Gallery’s 1979 exhibition Intuitive Eye which helped to properly contextualize their work. These artists played a pivotal role in the development of what many Jamaicans now view as our national visual identity and helped to propel the vibrant creative community found in Jamaica and its diaspora today.
This exhibition features a selection of 13 paintings and sculptures from the National Gallery of Jamaica’s Collection. Artworks created by Winston Patrick, Gloria Escoffery; Intuitives Mallica Kapo Reynolds and St. James’s very own Albert Artwell just to name a few are featured in this exhibit.
This exhibition is now open for viewing and closes October 13, 2019.
Our opening hours are as follows:
Tuesdays – Sundays
9am – 4:45pm
Looking forward to your visit!
