NGCI is pleased to announce the generous donation of C.E. Whitney’s oil-on-canvas works, Tin Roof Study, Abandoned House, and Caymanian Cottage, which have been gifted to the National Gallery by Mr. Ian Kirkham and family members Greg and Robert Johnson. These striking artworks represent an important addition to the National Collection, portraying the intricate compositional and material features of traditional Caymanian architecture, while sparking conversation around the importance of Caymanian architectural heritage as a means of understanding our Islands’ cultural history.
Caymanian Cottage captures the innocence of traditional Caymanian architecture, portraying the often-associated pastel hues and quaint decorative features. In this particular work, Whitney depicts the ‘old homestead’ in West Bay, an iconic landmark known for its charming appearance and traditional structural integrity.
By contrast, the artist’s impressive photorealist technique is on full display in the twin canvases donated by Ian Kirkham, Tin Roof Study and Abandoned House, which reflect upon the innate structural forms of traditional Caymanian architecture. Tin Roof Study draws the viewers’ eye to the stark contrast between the rusted corrugated iron roof and the neatly stacked green wooden panels which make up the building’s distinctive siding. Similarly, Abandoned House skilfully captures the changing effects of light and shade as they play across the home’s façade, with the parallel roof and window giving way to the interior structure of the building, achieving an overall three-dimensional, photographic appearance. The focus on materiality and composition within both works serve to enhance appreciation for Caymanians’ historical building techniques and use of natural resources, while also commenting upon the resourcefulness and ingenuity of previous generations. Today, such traditional homes are now very much synonymous with our national cultural identity, reinforcing the critical need for preserving them for posterity.
On behalf of the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands, we would like to extend a sincere thank you to Mr. Ian Kirkham and the family of C.E. Whitney for their generous donations. We look forward to sharing these wonderful pieces with the wider community in upcoming NGCI exhibitions.
