Upon The Seas

The ocean is a realm of potentiality and poetic imagination — at once familiar and strange — and a place of exploration, loss, and salvation.

As islanders, our national identity is intrinsically tied to the surrounding ocean. Historically it provided our primary means of sustenance and economy, while in recent years we have come to rely on the maritime-based tourism industry as well as the seaborne importation of our food and goods. As we look to the future, with concerns over environmental substantiality, global warming, and rising sea levels, how will this kinship continue to evolve?

The artists, archivists, filmmakers, and writers featured in this exhibition were invited to explore this question. Working from a variety of perspectives — historical, cultural, economic, and ecological — they offered thought-provoking insights and challenged the viewer to reposition themselves from mere observers to active participants in this evolving relationship.

Curated by Natalie Urquhart, the National Gallery’s Maritime Exhibition Series was held in conjunction with the Cayman Islands Seafarers Association, the Cayman Catboat Club, and the Cayman Islands National Archive (CINA). The exhibition was made possible through the generous support of Butterfield Bank (Cayman) Ltd.