Free Bird
This fragmented composition evokes the experience of urban life – a spatial tapestry of rich and often conflicting visual and auditory impressions. The realistic architectural streetscape—a block of old row houses with curtains drawn—references the isolation felt by many during the covid pandemic. The solitary figure in the image’s upper righthand corner is conjured from the halls of memory, as a flock of birds takes flight around him, a symbol both of freedom and the yearning to escape. Jennings’ image further suggests the complexity of our inner life, which is unbound by the strictures of time and space.
About the Artist
Andre Jennings
Born in the United States, Andre Jennings discovered his love of art while growing up in the Cayman Islands and recalls from an early age being fascinated by its ability to portray powerful emotions in visual form. Inspired by his everyday experiences and own personal history, he primarily works in pencil and charcoal for their immediacy but will occasionally work with acrylics on canvas. Jennings’ thematic explorations vary widely but have recently centred around Black history and its multiple legacies. Jennings is currently studying Finance at Florida International University, while continuing to develop his creative practice in his spare time. His work was recently featured at the National Gallery in Conversations with the Past in the Present Tense: 3rd Cayman Islands Biennial (2023).
