The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas (NAGB) has announced the opening of a new permanent exhibition, “The Nation/The Imaginary: The National Collection.” This exhibition is a significant part of NAGB’s year-long 20th-anniversary celebrations. The exhibition, curated by Richardo Barrett and Letitia Pratt, explores artistic representations of individual and collective identities. The exhibition will open on Thursday, October 19, 2023, from 6:30 to 9:00pm. (The event is free and open to the public.)

“The Nation/The Imaginary: The National Collection” will display over 500 works from the National Collection, acquired by the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas (NAGB) over its 20-year tenure. How does the artwork created by our artists reflect how we see and feel about ourselves? Art and artists have long been a central component in how we begin to identify Bahamianness, nationhood, and where we can imagine our country to go from here. All artists within our collection will be on display in this monumental exhibition.

“The Nation/The Imaginary” delves into juxtapositions of myth/reality, paradise/plantation, and the significance of imagination in transcending colonial ideation. As artists bear witness to our political coming-of-age, they craft stories that challenge power and guide us to a more nuanced self-knowledge. The collection is only a snapshot of this story/making–a great place to start imagining.

Art is a universal language that is accessible to everyone, providing inspiration and knowledge. While we are proud to safeguard and curate the National Collection, every print, painting, photograph, and sculpture belongs to all Bahamians. This diverse collection reflects us as a people and facilitates conversations that deepen our cultural understanding. We invite every Bahamian and resident to join us as we celebrate this milestone and learn something new about Bahamian art, history, culture, and identity.

For more information, see https://nagb.org.bs/event/the-nation-the-imaginary/