In commemoration of Emancipation Day on August 1st, the National Trust and the Art Society of Trinidad and Tobago have collaborated to stage an art exhibition at the magnificent Mille Fleurs heritage house until August 6th under the theme “Emancipation- the freedom of our people”.

This Exhibition features 20 Member Artists including Shawn Peters, presenting a showcase of 25 pieces in a wide range of mediums including, Paintings & Drawings in graphite, ink, pastels, charcoal, watercolour, acrylic, oils, and more, Fabric, New and Mixed media.

“The opportunity to host an emancipation themed exhibition is a way of paying homage to our forefathers by celebrating the freedom of creative expression, the seeds of which were sown in their overt and covert resistance to attempts to eradicate evidence of their culture” says Margaret McDowall, Chairman of the National Trust.

Ms Mc Dowall explained that over the centuries, ‘Art’ had been an unwitting but important historical record of diverse cultural practices locally, preserving for future generations, an insight into ways of life that colonial powers went to great lengths to suppress. “From the surviving Adornos and other first peoples’ artefacts, to forms of construction for dwellings and ornaments, early forms of artistic expression in day-to-day living were a legacy our forefathers left in the face of great oppression.”

Keiba Jacob Mottley, President of the Art society, notes that local artists have built on that foundation and are responsible for an enormous body of work that represents an enviable cataloguing of experiences of personal, social, emotional and intellectual liberation. “By showcasing the artistic interpretations of emancipation and its ongoing significance, the Art Society hopes to foster a dialogue about the power of art in preserving history, promoting inclusivity, and inspiring social change” said Ms Jacob Mottley.

The public is invited to visit Mille Fleurs during the exhibition, from 10 AM to 6PM daily, to explore interpretations of “Emancipation – freedom of our people”.