When it comes to Belizean art, what really is Belizean? Over the years we've seen things turn from the staid images of trees swaying in the Caribbean breeze, near that famous sea, to the far more cutting edge portraits of Michael Gordon, and the fetishized experimentations of Gilvano Swasey, the bad boys of local art who hail from the Image Factory. Well those one time avant-garde artists, are now "like so yesterday", because the new moderns have got a brand new bag. We got a look at where art is right here, and right now in a new show at the Image Factory.
[Montage Synced to Lauryn Hill’s ‘Everything is Everything’]
Gilvano Swasey, Curator Image Factory
“The focus of ‘Art now’ is basically to bring a very wide spectrum of artists together and show what new is happening is art.”
Alfonso Noble Reporting,
And this is it, a wide array of artistic expression ranging from video productions to rag dolls and installations. The Image Factory’s curator Gilvano Swasey says that the purpose of “Art now 2” is to document the state of Belizean art as it stands today complete with global influence.
Gilvano Swasey,
“Art in Belize has moved tremendously over the last 5 years. For two reasons: we are much more aware of what’s happening outside than just what’s happening in our own little niche in Belize and also we are more open to new ideas then in art. First we were just basically open to the realism like coconut trees and bridges and so forth. But we now realize that art has no boundaries and art is a very safe way to express yourself then. Eventhough there might be criticisms, it is the best way to express yourself.”
“In ‘Art Now 2’ we want to look at new materials that are being used for sculpting, photography, digital images, installation, and new ideas too. There is a growing movement in art in schools today. It shows them what the possibilities are and that how it’s never too late to join the team, in a sense, and try something new.”
And that newness has the gallery filled with eccentricities of Belizean artists that Swasey admits had to be tamed down somewhat.
Gilvano Swasey,
“We’re just basically trying to calm it down because its very strange. Like we’ve mentioned earlier the installation art or the contemporary art is very strange. Most of it is created just to create controversy and not really to create an effect. So what we do is we kind of tame it down but not really censor it. We basically put it in a more homegrown environment so people who come, they can relate to it and understand basically where art is going and where it has already been outside. Its just that we’re tired of playing catching up and we’re there now.”
The show runs until the end of November.