Mediating Self

Mediating Self was an exhibition of works from the permanent collections of the National Gallery, the National Museum, the Cayman National Cultural Foundation, and private collections. These works were brought together to illustrate the ways in which we use our bodies to create and navigate our personal and collective identities.

Our bodies are transmitters of signals, both verbal and nonverbal. How we present ourselves to others — how we dress, how we speak, how we act, etc. — communicates our sense of self. These signals are fundamental to how we relate to and understand aspects of our identity.

The construction of self is developed consciously and unconsciously and occupies a space of flux and fluidity. Self-identity is affected by our occupation(s), affiliations, social and familial relationships, our abilities, and our expectations.

Spanning a timeline of approximately 40 years, the featured artworks showcase the representation of the human body as creator and carrier of meaning. Illustrated through the figure and the portrait, the body became a vehicle for self-examination and negotiation.

This exhibition was curated by Kerri-Anne Chisholm.