In 2022 a group of artists from Grenada worked together for over a year to closely examine the unique Carriacou ritual of Shakespeare Mas.
This was presented in the most prestigious art event in the world, the Biennale di Venezia. Over 80 countries participated, their pavilions spread out over the entire city of Venice. Hundreds of artists took part, carefully chosen by their countries to display a view of the world interpreted by artists.
Over the 7-month period, the Grenada Pavilion welcomed over 100,000 visitors. They interacted with the paintings of Susan Mains, abstract paintings of Oliver Benoit, the video of the collaboration of Samuel Ogilvie and Ian Friday, the installation by Asher Mains of the found objects, and the research found by historian Angus Martin. Never before had these folks in the big world seen such a dissection of the performance culture played specifically in the streets of Carriacou on Carnival Tuesday morning.
To come full circle, some of this art and artists will now come to Carriacou to be seen by the very people from whom it was inspired. The Mermaid Hotel will host the exhibition, which will be free to all who would like to come and see it. It is hoped this exercise will help to bring out the knowledge that art has the capacity to interpret our culture, and to share it on an international level.
The official launch will be Thursday, 2 March at 5 pm, and people may come to view from 2-5 March from 10 am to 5 pm daily. Entrance is free, and the artists will be present to speak about the work. School groups are most welcome.
Also on that evening, the unveiling of the project conceived for the 2023 Biennale di Venezia for Architecture will be shared. This project also in a major way emphasises Carriacou, as it is about the building of wooden boats. Imagining, designing, building and launching a boat is also “architectural” work, understood as the ability to transform the visions, plans and examples born from the knowledge and skills of previous generations into new objects, solid and real, capable of facing the depths and uncertainties of the sea. Venice also has a history of building wooden work boats, and we will coordinate with a group there to emphasise the global connection of small islands.
These projects have been supported by the Grenada Arts Council. Since 2015, participation in 5 such international events in Venice has clearly made Grenada the leader in the region. Only Cuba has also had such a successful dedication to showing its artists’ work on this international stage. The Ministry of Culture, through the National Lotteries Authority, and the Grenada Tourism Authority, have contributed financially to each of these past pavilions, as well as private corporations in Italy and Grenada, and many, many individuals. You can visit the history on the website www.grenadavenice.org.
GAC
