This week we’re sharing ‘Paint Like the Swallow Sings Calypso’ which is a free exhibition taking place in Cambridge showcasing the work of three first generation diaspora Caribbean artists: Paul Dash, Errol Lloyd, and John Lyons.
The works presented bring to light the complex histories surrounding Carnival beyond its celebratory procession we have come to know as London’s Notting Hill Carnival.
The exhibition’s title refers to The Mighty Swallow which derives from the stage name of calypso musician Rupert Philo, whose performances evoked the struggles of social injustice amongst enslaved Africans particularly Indigenous people in the West Indies. Calypso music was often associated with playing an important role in political expression by challenging colonialism.
Each artist explores varying depictions of Carnival in their work from pleasure, like in Lloyd’s painting ‘Notting Hill Carnival’ (1988) to pain, such as in Lyons painting ‘Eloi! Eloi!’ (1979), a representation of Christ on the cross.
“The exhibition encapsulates a truthful representation of Carnival and its position in the world. From its origins in Catholicism, to its iterations across the world with the Caribbean diaspora… you will explore the many global faces of Caribbean Carnivals, both past and present.” – Gal-dem magazine.
This is an on-going exhibition at @Kettlesyard Art Gallery, Cambridge, UK that is running from 12 November 2022 – 19 February 2023, 11am – 5pm.