ART GRABS our attention. It causes us to pause, think and reflect, whilst it plays a critical role in the exploration of the human condition. The importance of art as an expression of Guyanese culture cannot be overstated, as, with a rich heritage with contributions from at least six ethnic groups, we have plenty to express.
For the purpose of this article, we will be looking at the visual arts, or art that is  primarily visual in nature (ceramics, drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, design etc).   All the influences of all the migrant cultures appear in Guyanese visual art.
Guyanese art goes right back to when our indigenous people, the Amerindians, etched rock paintings. According to writer Clairmont Chung, “Roots of Modern Guyanese art” on Trinicentre.com, the period from 1972 Carifesta to the beginning of the 90s is viewed as the “heyday” of Guyanese art, with the unveiling of the 1763 Monument in 1976 as a point of departure.

The 1763 Monument by Sculptor Philip Moore commemorates the successful revolution of slaves against the Dutch planter class of Berbice, Guyana. Soon afterwards, she writes, a ‘Roots and Culture’ Movement flourished, and on the local scene, a unique style seemed to emerge with an eclectic blend of mythology, religion, expressionism, and modernism.
In the same time period, (1975 to be exact) there was a ground breaking development in the local art scene when the E.R. Burrowes School of Art was founded by the late Dr Denis Williams, the then Director of Art and Archaeology within the Ministry of Education.
The E.R. Burrowes School of Art is mentioned here not only because it is a pioneer, but also because of its significant contribution to the appreciation of Guyanese art. One has only to attend one of the school’s grand annual exhibitions to see an amazing cross-section of our art.
Here’s an example of how we showcase our heritage with visual art. As any West Indian knows, cricket is more than a game in these parts, it’s a social force. Imported to the West Indies by the British, at the beginning of the 19th century, as a sport for the elite, cricket became a civil rights struggle of sorts; and today the game has evolved in direct proportion to the colonialist’s determination to establish it as the exclusive domain of propertied, educated and well-bred white citizens.
A picture speaks a thousand words, and what better way to express this fierce pride than with dramatic, large paintings which depict these demigods as they defy nature’s forces. The only limit is how far our imagination will stretch.

Devoid of colour, graphite pencil sketches showcase the pride of our culture in their own right. The simple medium eminently serves to highlight the strength and beauty of the Guyanese people they portray.
In short, visual art is high up there on the list of avenues to showcase Guyanese culture.