Artist Manuel Palacio’s new exhibit is sure to cause a stir.Black Apartheid is his take on the politics of Bermuda present and past.One piece features Progressive Labour Party MPs with blonde hair and blue eyes. Another, ‘I Hate White People’, shows the Island’s streets renamed as Old Boy’s Club Place, Oligarchy Place, Discrimination and Cohorts-Way.He says the works stemmed from the frustration he and other artists felt after the Government chose someone from overseas to create a sculpture of former PLP leader Dame Lois Browne Evans.That anger led to a period of introspection, which is reflected in other pieces in the exhibit.“I named the show Black Apartheid because, for me, it described how the Government is running the Country. It is similar in a mental perspective to the apartheid government of South Africa.“It started with the disillusionment I felt after the Dame Lois Marie Browne Evans sculpture in the new police building [on Court Street] was given to a non-Bermudian artist. I felt like the Government dismissed all artists [here].“It’s like we are not capable and don’t belong in their oligarchy. So I thought, ‘What is the best way to express my frustrations?’”It led him to read more about the contributions various Bermudians had made to the community.Mr Palacio said: “I like the bio of [United Bermuda Party founder] Sir Henry Tucker as I felt he had the interest of his Country and was willing to make changes in the old boys’ club for the betterment of society as a whole.”But, he continued: “Guilt and responsibility kept coming to mind. I felt, in my introspection, that those are the things I was making excuses for the whole idea of white people under the constant guilt of slavery.“All my childhood heroes have the same pattern of scaring white people. Malcolm X, Marcus Garvey and Muhammad Ali, these are the individuals that my African American culture celebrated. But I questioned, ‘If they were white would I be a fan? Would I like them so much?’ I felt there must be a reason to keep holding onto this blackmail. I came to the conclusion that it kept me from taking responsibility for my life.”He added: “We elect politicians that scare the hell out of white people like Malcolm X. I believe that former Premier [Ewart Brown] defines our collective manhood. He is ‘our man’; he’s a ‘brother’ with the thought ‘don’t let white man get back in the politicking game, by any means necessary.’”His depiction of white PLP MPs with blonde hair in Black Apartheid is a result of his period of self-examination. Mr Palacio wondered whether he would support them if they weren’t black.“If they were white would I vote for them? Would I even talk with them?” he asked.He was moved to integrate Bermuda street signs into ‘I Hate White People’ as “most of the names of streets are the foundation of old Bermuda”.“In conversation with black-only company I will hear ‘us’ talking about ‘them’ or ‘they’ I can’t stand white people, the 40 thieves still lives on. It’s not so unusual a situation.“I have white friends who share the same sentiments. When we are alone we talk about them. So I was listing the names of Bermudian institutions, foundations, and street names to define why Bermudians feel so angry about white domination.“It’s no surprise that Government changed the names of many buildings and the airport etc. Trimingham Hill, Spurling Hill, Tucker’s Town etc were all symbols of white dominance on the Island.“So I went one step further and made the street signs into the item they really hate about those names. Oligarchy, suffrage and segregation became the anchor for the hate I hear Bermudians constantly talking about.”Mr Palacio said he was pleased with the outcome.“When I was finished and looked at it, I was even more clear that I was giving these words power. I kept them alive. I hope the viewers will look at it and feel the same way.“Or if they can add more words, they will see it won’t make a difference, because it is the individual themselves who is defining the hate.“We will realise that ‘we’ give these words power. We have to find a way to change our paradigm. Better yet, take responsibility.”Black Apartheid is on exhibit at the Bermuda Society of Arts until August 9.