Bernadette Persaud’s art masterfully explores cross- culturalism ‘As New and As Old’

This morning is new, but the sun

that made it is old.

New and Old

is the face of the world’s great grief

A green leaf

on the branch of a tree fingers

our time’s disgraceful space. We

are its measure.

Martin Carter

The National gallery at Castellani House, as a 2014 Independence Anniversary and Arrival Day Exhibition has been celebrating one of Guyana’s outstanding contemporary artists – Bernadette Indira Persaud.

The exhibition ‘As New and As Old – selected works (1984 – 2014)’ is a strong and extensive one that shows the richness, power and phenomenal use of colour and imagery in the range of Persaud’s work throughout her career. As an Independence exhibition it is poignantly appropriate since Persaud as an artist speaks a great deal to nationhood in her artistic social and political commentary as well as in her philosophy. She makes statements about national identity, and the depths of the religious and multi-cultural substratum. At the same time she is a prominent national artist who represents Guyanese art and projects some of its