Guyanese Artist Karr Dyal – ‘Representing heritage through art’

US-based Guyanese, Karr Dyal, is a celebrated artist, who creates pieces, immortalizing his heritage, and he believes that the “right kind of influence” contributes to creativity.
Born in Guyana, Dyal attended the Burrowes School of Arts and graduated with a Diploma in Fine Arts. He also graduated with a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts, and graduated as a Master of Arts (MA) and Master of Fine Arts (MFA) from the New York Institute of Technology. Dyal is currently employed as technology professor at LIM College in Manhattan, NY.

In an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine,Dyal mentioned that his art as well as his professional career, got a significant start, just after finishing high school and becoming a student of the Burrowes School of Arts. While a student at Burrowes, one year later, he was appointed art master of St. Roses High School and the following year became president of the Burrowes School of Art Student Association. In that same year, being elected president, he was selected to represent the art school at Carifesta in Barbados.
The artist was awarded a special prize for his drawing “Portrait of Tony” in the National Exhibition of Visual Arts. This painting was subsequently bought by the government and is currently housed in the National collection.
In explaining the essence of his art, Dyal stated, that “Migrating from Guyana to the United States of America many years ago and clinging to most of my traditional values, I continue to be effervescent in representing my heritage through art, even amidst the challenges posed by migration and adaptation to a new land. I remained conscious that with the progression of time and inclination there will be a more expressive Guyanese simulacrum through art in the new land.”
Over the years, Dyal has enjoyed exhibiting his art at various international locations. He presented a ‘Man-Made Cave Installation” featuring art and animation (giving an aesthetic analysis of cave art) at the NYIT Gallery 61 in 2009. Additionally, he was part of a two-person show at the Queens Council on the Arts in 2002. In 2000, he had his one-man show at the Great Hall in Queens New York. The artist has also participated on numerous occasions in the National Exhibition of Visual Arts in Guyana.
His art commissions include life-size bronze portraits of historical personalities in Guyana, one such being “Kowsilla” commissioned by the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union in 1999. In 2002, “Canecutter”, a 5-foot high cement and steel sculpture, was commissioned by Dr Surujpaul Ragnauth in New York. Moreover, his other mix media sculptures are part of numerous for private collectors in New York.
In May 2012, Dyal was honoured by the Indo-Caribbean Council, NY, for his accomplishment in sculpture and art, and contributing to the Indo-Caribbean body politics and the Indo-Caribbean identity.
Noting the source of his inspiration, the artist said, “My inspiration is my experience, with people and things and education as well. No one is born creative; perhaps with the ingredients, but with practice that conscientiousness is nurtured and reflected in one’s endeavours. The right kind of influence is also helpful. This has been my personal experience.”