Broodhagen, the pioneer
Until the 1950s, Barbadian art remained centered on its traditions. Primitive arts, rooted in the environment, dominated creation.
Pioneers such as Bajan sculptor Karl Broodhagen (1909-2002) pushed back the frontiers. Born in Guyana in 1909, Broodhagen arrived on the island as a teenager. As a tailor, he perfected his understanding of the human body through sewing, which he later reused in sculpture. His realistic portraits, sculpted or painted, explore individuality. The artist responded to commissions, or took to the streets in search of inspiration.
In the 1940s, his work unsettled the general public. His sensual nudes were deemed unacceptable. It was in England, where he stayed on a scholarship, that he came to prominence. This enabled him to take up a teaching post, training people in life drawing and modernist trends.
His sculptures are now part of the Barbadian landscape. His "Bussa", the nickname given to the statue of the leader of the slave rebellion, or Slave in Revolt, has stood in front of St Barnabas since 1985 to commemorate the emancipation of the slaves. Busts of celebrities such as Dame Nita Barrow and Sir Grantley Adams dot the island. Criticized for its proportions, his face is in fact faithful to reality.
Until the 1970s, the place of artists was a source of anxiety. Then, little by little, their political and social messages were heard. They are also appreciated for passing on the history of the people. Under their fingers, intangible heritage becomes tangible.
Opening up to the world
In the same spirit, Ras Akyem contributes to the island's influence. Born in 1953 in Barbados, he studied art in Jamaica. The Rastafari movement permeates his style. In 1995, he organized his first solo exhibition in Barbados, "Animal Art". It was a tribute to the Haitian-born artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, who deeply influenced his work. Internationally recognized, he is represented in numerous private and public collections.
In honor of his career, in 2010 he received the Visual Arts Excellence Award for his contribution to the artistic development of Barbados.
Unconventional art
Omowale Stewart, born in 1950, is a prolific self-taught artist. From his earliest paintings, he transcribed the very essence of the country in his figurative works. He founded the group DE PAM (De Peoples Art Movement) to encourage non-traditional artistic practice. This association is fundamental to Barbadian culture. Through it, Omowale Stewart has enabled artists to break away from convention, sensitizing them to innovative approaches.
In 1991 and 1993, two of his works were selected by UNICEF to illustrate its cards.
On the island, he executed public murals inspired by live scenes, including the UN S.I.D.S at the Sherbourne Conference Centre, and the Cable and Wireless Mural in Wildley. He exhibits in the Caribbean, North America and Europe.
He paints commissioned portraits of local celebrities, ministers and cultural figures such as writer Kamau Brathwaite. His style evolved little over the course of his career. Omowale Stewart continues to show the authentic island with a vibrant palette. The surrealism of his compositions is fascinating. He also creates costumes, using the same vivid colors.
Neville Legall
A prolific artist, Neville became interested in drawing at an early age, after leafing through a friend's sketchbook. He began to draw whatever caught his eye. He perfected his technique during an art exchange program at the Detroit Jazz Center, under the tutelage of African-American artist Harold Neal.
Today, Neville continues to capture everyday scenes in Barbados. His vividly styled scenes appeal beyond the Caribbean and inspire his contemporaries. His faces are blurred, the silhouettes distant, lost in vast, luminous landscapes. A lone woman carries her groceries, workers toil in a potato field, elders wait for the bus. His broad brushstrokes render the forms almost abstract.
His art can be seen at the Gallery Of Caribbean Art (Northern Business Centre - Queen's Street Speightstown - St. Peter) and in the collections of places such as George Washington House, the Ministry of Culture, the National Library and the Geriatric Hospital.
Happy to share his expertise, he organizes workshops with the Plein Air Barbados center. Open to all. Neville teaches at St. Leonard's Boys School and Harrison College, and participates in cultural committees. Among his notable initiatives, he was the lead artist for the Rock Hall Mural Project in 2017. This public fresco project benefited from the participation of amateur and professional artists, such as Glenroy Jordan and Everick Lynton, students and locals.
Places and events
The major annual event for the visual arts takes place in March. The annual CaFA Fair Barbados brings together fine art from the Caribbean, with a selection of emerging artists and international celebrities. Among the regional talents is the promising Anna Gibson, a contemporary artist who explores all media. Focusing on women and their frailties, she traffics in the body in superb metamorphoses, between realism and expressionism.
CaFA can be viewed simultaneously on the virtual platform caribbean.global, and the 14th edition was held at the Pelican Craft Center. It included fashion, video, reading and panel discussions.
Art galleries abound on the island. In addition to exhibiting art, some offer classes for children and adults, such as the ArtSplash center, which also houses a family-friendly restaurant and a farmers' market.
The Gallery of Caribbean Art (Speightstown, West Coast) is one of the largest and most selective. It features paintings as well as sculptures in clay, metal and wood. A reference point for artists since 1957, the Barbados Arts Council in Bridgetown supports its talents, the rising stars of the local scene.
