ART WITHIN THE CARIBBEAN CONTEXT OF NEPOTISM AND CONFLICT OF INTERESTS


The realms of the art within the Caribbean may or may not be similar to that of our European counter parts. Considering the do and don’t within the complex field of the art. The Caribbean art landscape is no doubt rich and potent as it relates to content skills. Caribbean art is quite a term that may be debatable. If we are looking at it from the standpoint where art created within the Caribbean is or should be refer to as Caribbean art. On the other hand if we see it as the overall content and iconographies of the Caribbean cultural evidence. Whichever way we looked at it there will be some form of debate as it relates to this topic.

The selection of artworks for various exhibitions or biennial from a Caribbean point of view is to some extent laced with nepotism and conflict of interest. For example from one particular Caribbean country the person who is one of the major judges of the biennial is also exhibiting in the show. This poses question because such individual will ensure that all his colleagues work or in the show while other artists are been pushed aside. In addition to that from research one gather that although deadline were set for the selection pieces for the show it was only set for some people. Some artists ensure that they meet the prescribe deadline stipulated by the Gallery work was rejected while those who did not adhere to the deadline work were selected. I am not saying that because your work reach on time means that it must be selected. However, as a critical thinker one may think that some of these early works were thrown out or rejected although they were of good quality both in content and execution to accommodate the panel of judges’ friends and relatives.

Another point of concern that leads to questioning is the fact that most shows carry the same list of recurring artists. Are we trying to tell the public that there are no other practicing artist in that country than these people that we are seeing over the years? This is a clear indication that there are some people who believe that art should be govern by selfish cliques. On another level there are art instructors who may negatively criticised an art student work yet copy the student’s content and present it as his in an exhibition. Because the students is not well-know the public will not believe this story.

It is important for people to know that these types of people are there in the field of arts too. They are not there to help develop the art but more to stifle or hinder others. We need to be knowledgeable and more cognizant of the fact that the art clique is very much alive and is one of the most challenging obstacles to cross. However, things and times are changing. People are now seeing them for who and what they are. Art is a universal catalysis never own or operated by one set of persons, hence it is something you cannot contained. Before you contain it, it reveals who you are.

Some artists are quite aware of the fact that within the Caribbean it makes absolutely no sense that you submit your work for certain shows for selection because that only façade. The selection panel is there just to create the idea of being fair. The ego of the clique/ panel will not allow any form of genuine fairness to take place. Hence the approach put forth is one which is quite disingenuous. That is why when the tintinnabulation of the calling for the submission of work by artist for certain shows often times faced with mixed emotions.

 The idea of inferiority complex also bothers the art scene within the Caribbean. There are those who believed that if they expose other artists their work will not be highlighted; hence the whole idea of the “dirty art clique”. One should understand that one also grow when one allows others to grow.

It is a shame to see that in the world of aesthetic variety and objectivity lies so much bitterness!

 

Written by

Kirkland Clarke