On 20 October 2022, NGCI held an opening event for the latest exhibition Pop and the Popular in the Lower Exhibition Hall, with esteemed guests including HE Governor Martyn Roper, OBE. Inspired by the Pop art movement of the 1960s, this exhibition explores the meaning of ‘Pop’ within Cayman’s ever-evolving contemporary landscapes. In an effort to pinpoint what might be termed a uniquely ‘Caymanian Pop art aesthetic’, Pop and the Popular showcases the artworks of a diverse group of Cayman-based artists, all of whom in some way engage with, or respond to the concept of ‘Pop’ within their regular practice.
The ‘Pop Art’ movement of the early 1960s materialised as a rebellious opposition to the contemporary art scene of the time, which was then dominated by Abstract Expressionism. Seeking to blur the boundaries between art and everyday life and confound expectations, Pop artists such as Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and Claes Oldenburg drew their inspiration from popular culture and media, appropriating imagery associated with corporate advertising, celebrity icons, and the mundane of the everyday. Within this dichotomy of high and low culture, Pop art ambiguously infiltrated the landscape of the popular imagination – offering commentary on, and critique of, the objects and rituals of an increasingly materialistic society.
Utilizing a variety of media – from painting, collage, and sculptural works to animation, digital drawings and NFTs – the participating artists imaginatively engage with a variety of topical themes including the cult of celebrity, mass-production and consumerism, the emergence of NFTs, and Caymanian cultural identity and erosion.
Says exhibition curator William Helfrecht,
“What the artists in this show have effectively achieved is to strike a fine balance that both authentically references many of the pioneering Pop artists, such as Andy Warhol and Claes Oldenburg, while updating the essence of their work so it sits within the context of our own digital age of NFTs and social media, and from a uniquely Caymanian viewpoint. The featured artworks reveal the continued proximity between art and popular culture, highlighting the ways in which our individual and collective identities are ultimately mediated and shaped by broader, transcultural trends.”
The exhibition features 24 emerging and established artists including Vanessa Antunes, Shane “Dready” Aquârt, Wray Banker, Douglas Cameron, Carlos Garcia, Debora Gill, Heather Holt, Martina Jackson, Pamela Kelly-Laurenson, Jason Kennedy, Marc Laurenson, Anthony Lawrence, Michael Mothen, Morgan Olley, Claire Pettinati, Yonier Powery, Yonier Powery, Aimee Randolph, Elizabeth Paige Smith, Kay Smith, Gordon Solomon, Scott Swing, Avril Ward, Andy Warhol, CE Whitney, and Zhenya Xia.
Pop & the Popular is on view until 10 February 2023. Admission to the gallery and the exhibition is free to all, and opening times are Monday to Saturday 10:00AM – 5:00PM. For more information about Pop & the Popular and all related programming visit our What’s On page, or email programme@nationalgallery.org.ky