Exhibition
Art Under Lockdown was initially launched as an online exhibition in May 2020. It was developed to shine a light on the creativity of artists and members of the public who had turned to making art as a means of expression during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Using the digital sphere as a way to share art at a time of strict social distancing, the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands (NGCI) aimed to provide a platform for this outpouring of artistic creativity, and to further inspire the community as we continue to collectively grapple with the short and long-term effects of the pandemic.
There were a total 87 submissions to NGCI’s Open Call, ranging from student work by children as young as 12, entries by part-time artists and hobbyists taking advantage of the additional time and fewer distractions that lockdown afforded to many, as well as submissions by professional artists, many of whom feature prominently in NGCI’s permanent collection – from Grand Cayman and the Sister Islands. In the spirit of inclusivity all submitted entries were accepted, resulting in an eclecticism of theme and subject matter.
Captured through the eyes of artists, this digital exhibition – which for this iteration also includes a selection of works that have been reproduced for display purposes – offers a portrait of an extraordinary moment in our history and a chance to celebrate the life-affirming power of art and creativity in the darkest of moments.
This project is part of an ongoing collaboration between the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands, the Little Cayman Museum, and the Cayman Islands Legacy Fund (CILF) – a non-profit organisation established by the Tibbetts family to honour the legacy of Linton and Polly Tibbetts.