Wari
John Bird’s Wari is one of several projects in this biennial that connects local customs and vernacular forms to a broader field of cultural mythology –in this case the ancient game of wari, which traces its roots to West Africa, and was subsequently popularised across the Caribbean. Conceived as an interactive installation which invites audiences to engage with it, the artist has crafted a wari board whose functional utility is complemented by its elegant design. Inspired by American furniture designer George Nakashima – noted for his pioneering application of the “live edge” treatment – Bird’s piece is crafted out of reclaimed, local Black Olive.
About the Artist
John Bird
b. 1961
John Bird is a furniture designer who trained at the prestigious Parnham College in Dorset, United Kingdom under the tutelage of John Makepeace. He has exhibited his stand-alone furniture, which is typically made from reclaimed materials, in Europe, Canada, and the Cayman Islands. He uses a variety of woods, skilfully finishing his pieces with power tools, chisels and sanding to achieve a gleaming smooth finish. His work was awarded second prize in 2011 at the Ogier art awards and was featured in the NGCI exhibitions Revive: Contemporary Caymanian Craft (2017) and Cross Currents – 1st Cayman Islands Biennial (2019).
