After Independence

After Independence
Karl Parboosingh, Eugene Hyde and Barrington Watson formed the Contemporary Jamaican Artists’ Association in 1963. This development completed the maturation of the Jamaican art movement. Art was now a respected profession with a number of artists working full-time in their chosen career.

Jamaica had just got its independence in 1962. Spirits were high and forward-looking; the economy was stable with a profitable bauxite industry, construction thriving and a fast emerging tourism industry. The business community and successful individuals were able to purchase works of art.

The formation of the Contemporary Artists’ Association provided an infrastructure for the development of artists as well as a meeting place, the “Gallery”, where artists could network, share ideas and become immersed in jazz, poetry and other art forms from home and abroad.

Karl Parboosingh studied painting in New York, Paris and Mexico City. He approached his paintings in an abstract impressionist thrust, reminiscent of Matisse and his development – radically exploring different styles and techniques, linked to Piccaso. Noted works include his Black Christ series, executed in the sixties.

Eugene Hyde trained in the USA and was the first Jamaican artist to execute a series of work based on a single theme. His Flora series (examined to the point of abstraction) spanned between 1969 and 1973 and gave the artist public recognition.

Barrington Watson studied painting in London, Amsterdam, Paris, Rome and Madrid. His work is classical in style and his draughtsmanship and mastery in the use of colours are outstanding, which has won him many public and private commissions. Barrington Watson’s paintings explore the human figure in daily activities – a good example of his style and content can be seen in his 1985 painting, The Village Square. Barrington Watson was appointed head of the Jamaica School of Art and Crafts in 1962 and held that position for five years. As head, he introduced the Diploma and Interim Certificate programmes and changed the name of the institution to the Jamaica School of Art (JSA).

Other artists that contributed to the rich mix of the sixties and seventies included Seya Parboosingh – wife of Karl Parboosingh, Alexander Cooper, Karl “Jerry” Craig, Milton Harley, Christopher Gonzalez and Kofi Kayiga.