The caribArt Exhibition – My Sugar Island is a new art exhibition which will bring the warmth of the Caribbean to London this summer, from 26 – 29 June 2018. Held at The High Commission for The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the exhibition will feature a selection of work by emerging and established Caribbean artists, from countries including Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Dominica and Guyana. My Sugar Island will recount the stories and lived experiences of the artists, revealing an authentic and intimate display of work from the region.
Featured artists include Jean Taylor, Turks and Caicos; Nasha Bradshaw and Morris Thompson, Jamaica; Yasmin Nicholas representing Dominica and St Lucia; Salina Jane, Guyana; and Thalia-Mae Nero and Tricia Trotman-Maraj, Trinidad and Tobago.
My Sugar Island is the first in a series of exhibitions, which will share Caribbean art with countries throughout the European region. Future shows will build on the last, incorporating and uniting work from artists from a growing number of islands, as one Caribbean.
Incorporating paintings, jewellery and ceramic works, My Sugar Island will portray the vibrancy and energy that is often associated with the Caribbean.
The caribArt Project is the first of its kind in the history of the Caribbean, bringing art and artists from the islands to commemorate the rich culture of the region in Europe. It was founded by Tricia Trotman-Maraj in 2015 and held its official launch in 2017. Since its inception, the caribArt Project has sought to engage the local community through storytelling and Carnival workshops for children, sharing the history and culture of the region with a diverse audience. The caribArt Project provides accessibility for Caribbean art in Europe through travelling exhibitions and shipping services.
Tricia Trotman-Maraj is the founder and artistic director of the caribArt Project. With over 20 years’ experience in education, Tricia was inspired to launch the initiative when she migrated to the UK. Observing the limited representation of Caribbean art in the UK, Tricia founded the caribArt Project with the objective of promoting the artistic and cultural heritage of her native region in her new home, providing a platform for Caribbean artists to showcase their work.