The 2020 Bermuda Biennial opens to the public on Saturday, March 7th. The exhibition, sponsored by Bacardi Limited, is a key platform for the contemporary art scene in Bermuda. Started in 1994 by the Bermuda National Gallery, this year marks the 14th iteration of the Biennial and its continuing representation of the vitality and creativity of local artists.

As a member of the International Biennial Association, this important exhibition brings Bermudian artists the opportunity to engage in an internationally juried process overseen by established curators.

The 2020 Bermuda Biennial is co-curated by Melissa Messina, an Independent Curator and Curator of the Mildred Thompson Estate and formerly the Interim Executive Director and Senior Curator of The Savannah College of Art and Design Museum of Art, Savannah, GA; and Kimberli Gant, the McKinnon Curator of Modern & Contemporary Art at the Chrysler Museum, previously the Mellon Doctoral Fellow in the Department of Arts of Global Africa at the Newark Museum, in Newark, NJ.

This year’s theme Let Me Tell You Something is inspired by a quote from American author and Nobel Laureate, Toni Morrison:

“You are your own stories and therefore free to imagine and experience what it means to be human […] The theme you choose may change or simply elude you, but being your own story means you can always choose the tone. It also means that you can invent the language to say who you are and what you mean.” - Toni Morrison, Commencement Address, Wellesley College, 2004.

A group of over 50 artists submitted and 21 were chosen to participate. The works span the spectrum of media, including video, installation, works on paper, collage, painting, photography, sculpture, and performance.

The 2020 Biennial artists are: Centipede Art Movement, Dianni Culltar, Katie Ewles, Naimah Frith, Jayde Gibbons, Charlie Godet Thomas, Gherdai Hassell, Arié Haziza, Antoine. A.R. Hunt, Christina Hutchings, Cynthia Kirkwood, Jon Legere, Sidney Mello, NOBODY, Bryan Ritchie , Edwin Smith, Flurina Sokoll, Emma Steele, Andrea Sundt, Michael Walsh and Catherine White.

BNG Executive Director Peter Lapsley said “The Bermuda Biennial is the Bermuda National Gallery’s flagship exhibition and having had the opportunity to participate in previous years I can say without reservation it provides unparalleled opportunities for local artists, a world class exhibition for the community and the opportunity for local artists to have their work seen by some of the foremost art professionals in the world.”

Th e 2020 Bermuda Biennial opens on Saturday , March 7 th and runs until Septem ber. The Bermuda National Gallery is situated in City Hall & Arts Centre , Hamilton, and is open Monday – Friday 10am to 4pm and Satu rday 10am – 4p m.

For further information or images please contact Eve Godet Thomas, Director of Programming and Engagement, at programming@bng.bm or on 295 9428.

• Press release from the Bermuda National Gallery