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The Arts Intel Report

A Cultural Compass
For the World Traveler
A Cultural Compass
For the World Traveler

Forecast Form: Art in the Caribbean Diaspora, 1990s–Today

Suchitra Mattai, An Ocean Cradle, 2022.

Oct 5, 2023 – Feb 25, 2024
25 Harbor Shore Dr, Boston, MA 02210

It is impossible to define the Caribbean. With its 700 islands, 13 independent countries, and numerous dependent territories, this region has experienced diaspora, revolution, and globalization. When curating the exhibition “Forecast Form,” Carla Acevedo-Yates did not emphasize geography; instead, she focused on identity and displacement, on understanding the area as constantly evolving. Acevedo-Yates has selected works by 28 artists who are of Caribbean descent, who live in the region, or whose art is tied to it. Among them are the Cuban-American Ana Mendieta and the Guyanese-American Suchitra Mattai. Five photographs by Mendieta are spread throughout the show. Leaving traces of her body on varied landscapes, her quiet yet impactful images connect place, culture, and spirit. Mattai, who is of South Asian descent, weaves together Indian saris in An Ocean Cradle (2022). Reflecting on the Asian diaspora and indentured labor, the piece evokes the flow of the sea, sparking a feeling of coming and going. —Jeanne Malle

Photo: Wes Magyar/© Suchitra Mattai/courtesy of the artist and Roberts Projects, Los Angeles