“Homage to Denis Williams”, an exhibition of artworks by indigenous artists, currently ongoing at Castellani House, is the most appropriate title to celebrate Indigenous Heritage Month (September) for several reasons.
Dr. Denis Williams (1923 – 1998) was a pioneer archaeologist and anthropologist who in 1974, nearly 50 years ago, founded the Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology, which was the precursor for several prominent cultural institutions in Guyana, such as the E.R. Burrowes School of Art (1975), the Museum of African Heritage (1985), and the National Gallery of Art, Castellani House (1993). Dr. Williams himself was a distinguished artist and writer who studied, lived and worked in London in the late 1940s to late 1950s. From 1957 to 1967 he was teaching Art and Art History at several universities in Africa, during which time he penned and published numerous articles on the classical art of West Africa and a book “Icon and Image: A Study of Sacred and Secular Forms of African Classical Art” (1974, New York University Press).
While teaching in Africa, in Sudan, Williams discovered archaeology, but it was not until his return to Guyana, circa 1968, to live and work in the Mazaruni District, that his interest was reawakened upon discovering artefacts of the indigenous peoples in the area.
In 1973, by letter, he engaged the Smithsonian Institution and stated his interest and optimism in investigating and chronicling, in a structured way, the “antiquities” and the “arts” of the indigenous peoples to put things into historical perspective. In 1974 he was appointed the Director of the Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology, which he founded in the same year. This new appointment fuelled his drive to commence intense archaeological activities and excavations in the various regions of Guyana, which resulted in countless findings, revelations and documentation for the next 24 years of his life, until his death in 1998.
This year’s exhibition, in celebration of Amerindian Heritage Month, and exhibitors led by the artist and archaeologist George Simon, an understudy of Dr. Denis Williams, continues a trend where the sacred and secular art forms of the indigenous peoples, bound in a wide variety of media, are summoned for expression and interpretation. The artists remained true and steadfast to their creations, and for this reason the exhibition continues to flourish, as in past years, with numerous creations where motif, form and subject matter competes and jostles for dominance, but collectively and subtly creates its own aesthetics and harmony.
In these times of uncertainty, where the threats of de-culturation are great, these exhibitions are a constant reminder of who we are and the vision that we have. Should our culture and cultural institutions be de-emphasized by whatever powers may be then, we as a people may be left rootless.
“Homage to Denis Williams” art exhibition continues until October 15, 2016 at Castellani House, located on Vlissengen Road, Georgetown. Admission is free. For more information, call 225-0579. (Text by Ohene Koama, Curator: Castellani House)
