Artist Bryan Duncan and his work The Weary Travellers - an embodiment of fear, stress, sleeplessness and a sense of paranoia. The quest to escape a particular lifestyle has manifested in a kind of 'wondering soul' which seeks closure.
JAMAICAN BRYAN Duncan emerged as one of the winners of the 2005 Commonwealth Arts and Crafts Award for 2005. He is one of only 11 artists from around the Commonwealth chosen to receive this prestigious award.
The award is given every two years to young artists and craftspeople who have shown exceptional promise in their own country but have had little opportunity to work abroad. They are given a sum of money to travel to another Commonwealth country, work alongside that country's artists, and mount an exhibition of their work at the end of their visit. Mr. Duncan will visit India.
Artists are chosen on the basis of their artwork, which must be strong, original and have its own voice, but also on their personal qualities. Judges select people who will make the most of the opportunity the award offers, who have a desire to extend their horizons and learn from
and share with others, and who are resourceful and self-reliant enough to organise and manage their award.
In the words of one of the judges, Robert Loder, CBE, Chair of the Triangle Arts Trust, "The Commonwealth Arts and Crafts Awards is an important initiative not just for the individual artist but for the wider community of artists around the commonwealth. The award gives many artists opportunities, not otherwise available, to expand their horizons and share their skills with other artists from the Commonwealth. The exchange of practice and ideas between artists of different cultural backgrounds creates a stimulus and interest in art-making among a wide audience in countries to which the award winners travel and work."
Winners of the award come through a rigorous selection process, being chosen from over 170 entries by artists and art administrators representing a wide variety of cultures.
ADVICE AND LEADERSHIP
The awards are organised by the Commonwealth Foundation. The Commonwealth Foundation is an intergovernmental organisation of the Commonwealth, which receives its core funding from the governments of Commonwealth countries. The mission of the Commonwealth Foundation is to work to enhance the role of civil society organisations in governance, democracy, sustainable development and culture by strengthening their institutional and human capacity, and by creating opportunity and space for their partnership, participation, advice and leadership, thereby achieving lasting improvements in the condition of Commonwealth peoples.
"The body of work submitted in the Commonwealth Arts and Crafts Competition was my attempt at highlighting some social, domestic, economic, financial and identity concerns of the working class," Mr. Bryan said.
He further noted that "as a teacher one interacts with students, parents and sometimes other members of a particular community where you work. The interactions have been stimulating for me as an artist."
For further information about Bryan Duncan please contact him at 942-6891 or 890-4698 or at oneartonelife@yahoo.com. For further information about the Commonwealth Arts and Crafts Awards, please visit the Commonwealth Foundation
website at www.commonwealthfoundation.com.
