1998 Bacardi Limited Biennial - curator statement

First the details: Dr. Daniel Rosenfeld and Dr. Lizette LeFalle-Collins, the international jurors for the 1998 Bacardi Limited Biennial, considered 326 works of art submitted by 48 artists (four our last Biennial we had 284 artwork from 39 artists). What a task! And what experience and enthusiasm they brought to the process!

Each artist submitted up to 10 slides of work done since January 1996. the jurors looked at these slides at least four times in an effort first to absorb the kind of art they were jurying and second to select a short-list of artworks which they wanted to see "in the flesh". One hundred and two works by 33 artists were brought in and the final selection was made from the art itself. In the end, 54 artworks by 28 artists were selected for the 1998 Bacardi Limited Biennial.

The "tight show" includes a wide range of techniques and materials — all of a high standard. We were pleased that an increased number of sculptures was submitted and accepted — and that, of the 28 1998 Bacardi Limited artists, there are 14 men and 14 women. The youngest is 21 — the oldest is almost 80. The hands that created the work are light, medium and dark in colour. A true cross-section of Bermuda society.

We are deeply grateful to Bacardi Limited for agreeing to sponsor not only this, but our next two Biennial exhibitions. We know that this is in keeping with their long-term support of the arts — indeed a number of this year's artists had their first solo shows at Bacardi, or participated in group exhibitions at the Bacardi Building.

Thank you to our sponsor. Thank you to our jurors. And most of all, thank you to all artists who took part in the whole Biennial process.