The Board of the Barbados National Art Gallery are pleased to share news of the acquisition of a work by Versia Harris: “They Say You Can Dream A Thing More Than Once” (2012-2022). As detailed on the artist’s website, “Harris’s ongoing interest in the ways that fantasy builds and determines our external world has led her to think about the ways that ideas and thoughts, eventually shape the physical...Harris uses fantasy and world building to metaphorically address the human condition and explore various theories about identity, land, political control, acts and ideas of power and media influence. What are our collective fantasies about ourselves, our nations and our world? How are they linked to conflict, struggle and acts of aggression but also beauty, story and triumph? Inspired and compelled by nostalgia and theory, Harris examines the Walt Disney princess as a symbol of idealism and tries to understand the implications and impact of such an ideal on an individual.”
This two-channel video installation was recently included in the seminal 15th edition of documenta, a contemporary art exhibition held in Kassel, Germany between June and September 2022., and the Board of the BNAG is thrilled to welcome it into the collection.
Artist Versia Harris with Chairperson of the BNAG Board Alissandra Cummins, Deputy Chairperson Allison Thompson and Board Member Clyde Cave.
Detail still of "They Say You Can Dream A Thing More Than Once", two-channel video installation (2012-2022)
