Renowned painter Virgil Broodhagen.
Over 100 years of artistic creativity, culture, and Caribbean beauty are being showcased at the Garrison Savannah's Clock Tower this month.
The Barbados Advocate visited Virgil Broodhagen's art exhibition and spoke to the respected painter about his work and the work of his well-known father, Karl Broodhagen.
Karl Broodhagen is remembered for his sculptures of Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir Grantley Adams, and national hero, Bussa. The artist was born in British Guyana on July 4, 1909. He migrated to Barbados at age 14 with his mother. Broodhagen disclosed that recently he found out that the original plan was for his father to travel to the USA to pursue his art. But Karl's mother died prematurely from a brain aneurysm.
Karl continued his work, but he was also an apprentice and became a qualified tailor. Karl became a teacher at the Combermere School around 1947. He did a course at Goldsmith College in England and returned to Combermere school by the early 1950s. During the interview, Virgil remarked that his father was fascinated with people and his work reflected that theme. The majority of Virgil's work focuses on capturing Caribbean people in motion; the fishermen, children fishing, families enjoying a day at the beach, doing laundry, and the street vendor. Most people would recognise Virgil's work as it has been reproduced on local postage stamps. His paintings have also been displayed internationally.
Virgil's work and his father's work have been featured at Frank Collymore Hall, Pelican Village, and other areas across the island over the years.
The exhibition, which features the paintings of Virgil and the sculptures and portraits by Karl Broodhagen, illustrates black Caribbean beauty through clay and oil paint. It encapsulates the scenes of ordinary Bajan people and their rural and urban existence. The showcase also features beach scenes and street vending from neighbouring Caribbean islands.