Circles and Circuits II: Contemporary Chinese Caribbean Art

The second of a two part exhibition, this collection includes contemporary art of the Chinese Caribbean diaspora that reveals the hidden complexities of the transcultural nature of the Caribbean.

Circles and Circuits explores the art of the Chinese Caribbean diaspora from the early 20th century to the present day. By examining the contributions of artists of Chinese descent in Cuba, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and beyond, the exhibition will reveal the hidden complexities of the transcultural art of the Caribbean. The exhibition will be presented at two venues, the Chinese American Museum (CAM) and the California African American Museum (CAAM). The presentation at CAAM will trace the history of Chinese Caribbean art from the 1930s through the period of the region’s independence movements, showcasing the contributions of artists little known outside their own countries, such as Sybil Atteck (Trinidad and Tobago) and Manuel Chong-Neto (Panama), and providing a new context for understanding the better-known work of Wifredo Lam (Cuba). At CAM, the exhibition will focus on the work of contemporary artists such as Albert Chong and María Magdalena Campos-Pons, as well as artists of the ongoing Chinese Caribbean diaspora. The contemporary works featured explore issues of post-colonial history, popular culture, personal history, and the body.