NADA Miami 2023

Cydne Jasmin Coleby’s interdisciplinary practice celebrates the captivating complexity of what it means to be Caribbean, while also examining the transformative effects of grief and trauma through a personal lens. Known for her texturally dense, mixed media collages, the Nassau-born artist draws on the aesthetics of Junkanoo, an annual festival which celebrates the Bahamas’ resilience against European colonization through a vivid display of materiality.

Comprising collaged elements that make up an image of two companions seated by the sea, “Remembering I” was created in response to the Bahamian government’s decision to restrict citizens’ access to the beach, during the height of the pandemic. Regardless of its well-meaning intentions, this policy deprived locals of access to a natural space where they could self-heal and gather in a socially distanced manner, leading many to question the distinction between ‘tough love’ and punitive action. This discourse prompted Coleby to reflect on simpler days, and to hold onto hope that they would greet her again in the future. Notably, the original iteration of “Remembering I” resides in the collection of Destinee Ross-Sutton, NY.