What is art? What is culture? And how do art and culture intersect? The questions are not new, but the Bermuda National Gallery (BNG) intends to challenge viewers to rethink their preconceived notions of art with its three new winter exhibitions.

Certainly, those who are accustomed to standard exhibitions of paintings, sculptures, photographs and installations in the sophisticated confines of the City Hall gallery will have their senses jolted by the sight of auxiliary and motor cycles sitting in the plush surroundings.

'Changing Gears: The Art of the Bermuda Motorcycle' is the brainchild of BNG curator Sophie Cressall, and is inspired by the 1998 exhibition, 'The Art of the Motorcycle', at New York City's Guggenheim Museum, which broke attendance records.

"Our exhibition will celebrate an art form that is also a rite of passage in Bermuda," Miss Cressall said. "'Changing Gears' will look at the motorcycle as a metaphor for Bermuda culture. Symbolising freedom, escapism, identity, creativity, and personal expression, the motorcycle continues to be a cultural icon which expresses Bermuda's evolving social identity.

"Putting this exhibition together clarifies how important the motorcycle is as an expression of the culture of the times. It is remarkable to discover how locals convert stock bikes to artworks with personal signatures and styles. The challenge was in the selection process as the BNG has limited space."

Motorcycles draw: In another departure from its normal exhibition routine, the BNG is offering a chance to win one of two SYM motorcycles, donated by CycleCare to be spray painted by Robbie Rogers, Jr. However, all participants in the draw must either be a current member, become a member, or renew their membership in the BNG. The draw will takes place at 4 p.m. on March 15, when the gallery celebrates both its African collection and its 17th anniversary, with dance, drumming and performance poetry.

The second of the three exhibitions, entitled 'African Art in Motion', will explore the ceremonial and cultural functions of artifacts from nine African nations in a display which endeavours to bring the static pieces of sculpture to life with filmed ceremonies, music, and photography.

"This exhibition is intended to dialogue about how artifacts continue to serve both aesthetic and historical meaning in all of our world cultures," Miss Cressall added.

The third exhibition, 'Contemporary Conversations: Kevin Morris' is another new concept to the BNG, in that it highlights work by living artists in the gallery's Permanent Collection.

"It allows for exceptional artists, in mid-career, to showcase their talents and trigger conversation about the layers of meaning in contemporary art," the curator said. "It is anticipated that this exhibition will also inspire emerging artists with fresh and challenging artwork."

In an overview of the upcoming trio of Winter exhibitions, director Lisa Howie said: "They seek to embrace a wide range of artistic and cultural interests, and thus a wide spectrum of the Bermuda community. Art plays such an important role in our lives — bringing people together, enriching educational experiences, creating global connections, providing pause in an increasingly hectic world. As we go forward into an uncertain economy, it is crucial that the larger Bermuda community continue, or join in, the financial support of all art and cultural institutions."

In order to make further bridge the art on display with local culture, the February 1 opening will end with a performance of the Warwick Gombeys, and a parade of motorcycles from the classic to the contemporary.

In conjunction with the exhibitions, which are sponsored by Endurance Specialty Insurance Ltd., a host of lectures, films, and art workshops are scheduled — most notably Alisa LaGamma's PartnerRe lecture on February 24 entitled 'Genesis: Ideas of Origins in African Sculpture'. Ms LaGamma is a visiting curator from Department of the Arts of Africa, Oceania and the Americas at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

• For further information contact the Bermuda National Gallery at 295-9428 or visit website www.bng.bm