Biography
Ancel Daniel is a Guyanese/Barbadian Artist and Educator based in Barbados.
Her body of work is framed around Caribbean heritage and socio-cultural dynamics with a focus on the changing face of the region's unique cultural identity. Spanning mediums such as clay, wood, metal and glass wax, her sculptural installations and paintings depict a Caribbean narrative, embedded in history, politics and social dynamism. Her installation demonstrates a disparity between past and present representations of cultural practices within the region and the Caribbean diaspora. Ancel’s hybrid installation examines cultural primitivity and its symbolism within modernity. Photography and videography are integral to her archival research, serving as the foundation for her studio practice. Daniel's work has been viewed in solo and group exhibitions in Guyana, Barbados and London.
Her recent solo art exhibition "Immigrant" was curated by Barbadian artist/editor
Llanor Allyne and hosted by the Argentinean Embassy, Barbados on the 27th April 2019. This recent development has given Ancel and introspective on the subject of migration since she has migrated to Barbados from South America in 2012. Her experience in videography and photography has aided her writing and producing skills in documenting a fifteen-minute film titled, Living in the Minority.
Ancel is also a poet/songwriter, pending the Caribbean Festival of Arts 2008, theme song and was awarded by the Ministry of Culture and Sports, Guyana.
Between work and creativity, she is able to balance making and educating young upcoming artists.
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Statement
One of the popular tourist vacation attraction is found in the Caribbean. Many international visitors travel to experience the Caribbean Cuisine, white sandy beaches and warm weather. But for those who live in the Caribbean, their visits sometimes turn out to be a long term staycation. This is defined as the intra-Caribbean migration phenomena.
In fact, there is no dispute in emigration from the sending society: but there is a concern in the receiving society when the immigrant is sometimes seen as poor and inferior. Also, there is an exaggeration of the migrant population number, negative stereotyping, cultural-linguistic and ethnic issues that threaten national identity. There is a situation of poor wages, job insecurities, racism and other anti-immigrant sentiments.
My conceptual studio practice on the subject of migration involves the use of various mediums such as paintings, drawing, sculpture and ceramics. 3D sculptures are conceptualised from photographic images, to create a narrative framed around movement and mood. In many cases, the photographic images are of individuals who appear stoic or contemplative. These forms are placed within the paintings to suggest confinement within a space as it relates to a migrant searching for greener pastures.
Paintings are made on wood panels, using monochromatic or a mixed colour spectrum of acrylic paints to prime or narrate imagery. These images are sometimes portraiture of Caribbean people and a figure of a bird, so as to add humour to the subject as it relates to the issues of border control.
Glazed clay sculptures of humanoid forms are designed to stimulate conversation and are sometimes assembled to the wood panels, within the painting. These pieces are embellished with metal, fabric and found materials to enhance and add to the narrative framed around movement.