Journey
Frequently preoccupied with maritime themes, the work of Yonier Powery reflects his family upbringing between the Isle of Youth and Grand Cayman. In this miniature-sized depiction of a dilapidated fishing boat, Powery pays homage to the humble and often hand-built vessels prevalent in the artist’s native Cuba, and occasionally still sighted in the traditional fishing community of Cayman Brac. Rendered with an almost obsessive attention to detail — evident in the depiction of the ship’s captain, whose raised hands clasp an antique spyglass — the strangeness of Powery’s universe places him in the legacy of Surrealism (a movement that was successfully transplanted in Latin America and the Caribbean), yet the humour and idiosyncratic style of his sculptural creations are very much his own.
About the Artist
Yonier Powery
Yonier Powery Serrano was born on the Isle of Youth, Cuba. Commencing his artistic studies in 1999, he joined the workshop of renowned artist Agustin Villafaña before moving to Wilfredo Lam’s Professional Academy of Visual Arts in the Isle of Youth. There he learned to master a wide range of techniques, from drawing and painting to ceramics and sculpture. A strong theme in the artist’s contemporary style is bridging fantasy and reality, often taking influence from the sea. Moving to Grand Cayman in 2010, Powery has since featured in numerous exhibitions, including solo shows at AwardArt gallery in 2018 and 2020, as well as in the NGCI exhibitions Cross Currents – 1st Cayman Islands Biennial (2019), and Reimagined Futures – 2nd Cayman Islands Biennial (2021).
