This weekend, the National Gallery will open a major exhibition that celebrates the work of Caymanian artist and designer Jawara Alleyne, and his eponymous fashion label. Produced in collaboration with designer, and foregrounding his voice throughout, it will showcase his last three collections along with his artwork, sketch books, design archives, and imagery by leading fashion photographers.
“Jawara Alleyne: Island Underground” draws inspiration from the rich tapestry of underground creativity thriving beneath the surface of our island paradise as Alleyne seamlessly blends past and present to encapsulate the island’s complex identity. Evoking references from storytelling and folklore to pirates and punk, he pays tribute to individuals who define themselves on their own terms like Ann Marie ‘Hairstyle’ Tomlinson, Gerald ‘Bogle’ Levy, and Darvin Ebanks as Captain Black Terrance of the Bloody Bay Buccaneers.
Says the artist, “I’ve always been inspired by a dare to be different attitude, and I wanted to reflect individuals who have inspired me to find my way of doing things… to write my own story. This collection is not only a celebration of underground culture but also an exploration of a fine art approach to fashion, where each piece is crafted with an approach that pulls on and expands a local identity. Island Underground invites viewers to see fashion not just as clothing but as a canvas for artistic expression and cultural commentary.”
Speaking about the project, Natalie Urquhart, National Gallery Director and the exhibition’s Curator said: “The Island Underground exhibition explores Alleyne’s artwork and design process, culminating in his recent Spring/Summer 25 Collection of the same name. Informed through painstaking research into the National Art Collection, which has inspired his bespoke abstracted fabrics and unique drape work, and by revisiting Caribbean traditions of upcycling and repurposing, he seamlessly blends echoes of renowned artworks and cultural practices and infuses them with movement and form.”
Jawara Alleyne SS25 Island Underground
The resulting body of work is a multi-layered journey into the creative process with Caymanian culture and heritage at its core. For the Gallery, who has worked with Alleyne since he was a student and supported his studies via their National Gallery Deutsche Bank Scholarship, the exhibition is a chance to showcase and celebrate his achievements as he embarks on the next phase of his international career. For the artist, this project brings him full circle.
“Bringing pieces of my collections and sharing the sources of my inspiration in the place where it all began, is deeply personal,” adds Jawara. “It’s more than just fashion – it’s about honouring where I come from and sharing that story with the world. The National Gallery is a sacred space for me, a place where art and culture meet. This exhibition is a way to connect my work with the people and the community that answered and supported my calling. My work goes beyond being simply inspired by culture; it engages in an ongoing dialogue with it. It’s about expressing my culture and also speaking directly to it.”
The exhibition follows immediately on the heals of Jawara’s recent success at London Fashion Week with the presentation of his S/S 25 collection of the same name, which was supported by the Ministry of Border Control, Labour, and Culture, the Ministry of Tourism and Ports and Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, Dart, and Brand Caribe. The wider exhibition is supported by Susan A. Olde, OBE, Bahia by Davenport Development, and Cayman Airways. All are fully invested in this collaboration, recognising the value of elevating Caymanian talent on a global stage.
Minister of Border Control, Labour, and Culture, Honourable Dwayne Seymour, expressed his excitement about the cultural impact of Alleyne’s work: “By weaving our heritage, art, and identity into each piece, Jawara celebrates the authenticity of our culture while pushing the boundaries of modern fashion. His work not only honours our past but reimagines it for future generations.”
The exhibition runs from 4 November 2024 until 7 February 2025 and admission to the Gallery and the exhibition is free. Opening times are Monday to Saturday 10:00am – 5:00pm.
About Jawara Alleyne
Jawara Alleyne is an interdisciplinary artist, creative director and educator whose work is rooted in identity. Alleyne graduated with a Master’s in Design from Central Saint Martins in 2020 and in 2021 launched his signature brand under the Fashion East initiative. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design and Marketing from London College of Fashion and a degree in Business Administration from the University College of the Cayman Islands. Alongside his work as a designer and creative director, he also lectures at Central Saint Martins.
Jawara’s eponymous label is based on a value system that consists of two core pillars – identity and circularity – and is informed by his experience with ‘hand me downs’ in a Jamaican household, as well as the customary practices of reclaiming and repurposing objects in Caymanian society. Speaking about his work, the artist says: “The stories we tell balance the Rastafarian mysticism of Jamaica and the pirate folklore of the Cayman Islands with the punk histories of London’s subculture. This collision of narratives highlights the importance of embracing differences in the construction of new futures. A fluid interlocking of archetypes and histories sits beside a design practice that weaves together drape work and circularity, arriving at handcrafted works that speak to the consumer of tomorrow.”
