Public Mural
Title
Full Fathom Five
"Full fathom five" is the catchphrase start of the below poem taken from Shakespeare's, The Tempest. Its original context, during a storm and shipwreck, is the drowning, in water about 5 fathoms (30 feet; 9 metres) deep, of the father of the character to whom the lines are addressed and the physical metamorphosis that follows.
Full fathom five thy father lies;
Of his bones are coral made;
Those are pearls that were his eyes:
Nothing of him that doth fade
But doth suffer a sea-change
Into something rich and strange.
Sea-nymphs hourly ring his knell
Hark! Now I hear them – Ding-dong, bell.
— William Shakespeare, The Tempest, Act I, Sc. II
Medium
Latex Paint on Wood Panel
Size
2 - 8ft wide X 18ft tall
Client
Commissioned by The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas as part of their ongoing Mural Programme and in affiliation with the (ITE) Inter-Island Traveling Exhibition
Location
Pineapple Festival Park, Gregory Town, Eleuthera, The Bahamas
Year
2020
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Artist Statement
In keeping with the Inter-island Traveling Exhibition's theme, "From Time: Water Has A Perfect Memory" this creative project intends to give a strong, visual narrative that will impact Bahamians and visitors alike - expanding on our awareness of pressing issues surrounding sustainability, our environment, our national identity as it exists now and as it has evolved through time.
The mural pays homage to pineapple farming, a once lucrative, agricultural heritage in Eleuthera. Since 1988, Gregory Town has hosted its annual Pineapple Festival, a celebration to honour the tradition, which takes place during the harvesting of pineapples every year.
The right panel features local marine life, specifically - Lined Seahorses 'Hippocampus Erectus', various corals, clams and other organisms found in Sweetings Pond, a neighbouring, land-locked saltwater pond, located near the settlement of Hatchet Bay. The left panel depicts the opening and underwater cavern of Sapphire Blue Hole and various sea life found within.
The pineapple crowns of the two figures serve to direct our gaze upward, symbolizing equality, strength and empowerment and encouraging us to further engage, learn and consider the meaning of our history, our environment, the impact of climate change and how we can rebuild consciously to ensure an inclusive and sustainable future in our beloved Bahamian & Caribbean space.
