Artist Shane “Dready” Aquart recently gifted a large panorama of Grand Cayman to the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands (NGCI). The work, entitled Cayman Panorama – Things That Exist Only in Fading Memory, features a series of Caymanian architectural icons that Shane exhibited at The Gallery in 2013. “It is about the Caymanian landscape of my memory past and present,” explains the artist, who used to visit his father here as a boy in the 1970s before returning to live in Grand Cayman in 1994. The buildings depicted draw from his memories, and stretch from West Bay to North Side as if the road were linear around East End.

Mr Aquart is well known for his illustrative images and characters that are digitally produced by drawing using a computer. He explains, “The computer doesn’t draw it for me, I draw it using the computer tools as pencil and paint brush. Some things like painting big blocks of colour are simpler on the computer, but other things like creating nuances and contours are harder.” He adds, “The true joy is that once you have drawn an image and saved it to the computer you never have to draw that image again.”

The work Cayman Panorama – Things That Exist Only in Fading Memory now forms part of the National Gallery’s Permanent Collection for generations to view and enjoy. Natalie Urquhart, Director of the National Gallery explains, “Our goal is to develop and strengthen the National Collection by creating opportunities for acquisition and commission of artwork while ensuring its care and conservation. We are thrilled to have Dready’s Panorama as part of the collection. The work is historically significant and captures our nostalgic vision of Grand Cayman through his singular style.”

In 2013 the work was exhibited in the Dart Auditorium/Community Gallery as a 119 ft. x 7 ft. installation. The work wrapped the walls and captured the imagination of many art lovers and students who visited The National Gallery. At the same time that the larger work was created, Mr Aquart made the 6.5 foot long replica which is now part of the National Gallery’s Permanent Collection. He notes, “From the very beginning this piece of art was inside the National Gallery and so it has stayed there – it is where it belongs.”

For more information about the National Gallery’s Permanent Collection and how you can support the programme email [email protected] or call (345) 945 8111.