Lisbeth Thalberg
LONDON—Today, Tate Britain proudly unveils “GRACE,” a compelling new commission by renowned artist Alvaro Barrington. This immersive installation, integrating sound, painting, and sculpture, transforms the iconic Duveen Galleries into a vibrant narrative space. Barrington’s work celebrates the influential women in his life and reflects on the profound impact of Black culture on his upbringing and artistic practice.
A Tribute to Three Key Figures
“GRACE” centers around three pivotal women in Barrington’s life: his grandmother Frederica, a close friend and sister-figure Samantha, and his mother Emelda. The installation, staged in three acts, intertwines personal history with broader cultural themes, drawing inspiration from Barrington’s experiences of Caribbean carnival culture and his childhood memories in Grenada and New York.
Act One: Shelter from the Storm
Visitors enter the Duveen Galleries beneath a suspended corrugated steel roof, evoking the sensation of seeking refuge from a tropical rainstorm. The soundscape, featuring the rhythm of raindrops and curated NTS radio programs, accompanies compositions by Kelman Duran, Andrew Hale, Devonté Hynes, and Olukemi Lijadu, along with music by Mangrove Steelband. Seating crafted from rattan and plastic, adorned with braided elements and plastic quilts embroidered with postcards and artworks by Teresa Farrell, invites guests to pause and reminisce on childhood memories of safety and shelter.
Act Two: Celebration in the Streets
Emerging from the storm, visitors encounter a four-meter-high aluminum sculpture of a dancing figure, collaboratively created with Barrington’s friend Samantha. The sculpture, standing on a communal steel drum, is embellished with ‘Pretty Mas’ jewelry by L’ENCHANTEUR, a costume by Jawara Alleyne, and nails by Mica Hendricks. Surrounding paintings on scaffolding depict ‘traditional Mas’ characters and carnival revelers, creating a lively carnival streetscape. This act references the Caribbean tradition of ‘J’ouvert,’ where participants dance at dawn, covered in paint, mud, and oil, symbolizing community and celebration.
Act Three: Reflection and Contemplation
The journey concludes in the North Duveen gallery, where light filters through a stained-glass window onto a kiosk sculpture, designed to the dimensions of an American prison cell. The sculpture, surrounded by crowd control barriers and barbed wire, alludes to issues of mass incarceration. Church pews covered with plastic quilts containing pillowcases featuring Barrington’s drawings face this somber scene, evoking the love and fear felt by Black mothers for their children amid state violence.
A Powerful, Immersive Experience
Alex Farquharson, Director of Tate Britain, commented, “We are delighted to present Alvaro Barrington’s largest commission to date in Tate Britain’s Duveen Galleries. Taking us from a tropical Caribbean rainstorm into the busy streets of carnival and leaving us in a reflective, sacred space, GRACE demonstrates Barrington‘s ability to translate personal history into evocative, relatable experiences. We are excited to see how visitors will interact with this powerful, immersive artwork.”
“GRACE” stands as a testament to Barrington’s unique ability to merge personal narrative with universal themes, offering visitors an intimate, thought-provoking experience that resonates on multiple levels.
