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The National Gallery opens a new exhibition this week that explores the world of interiors and the concept of interiority – the contemplation of inner life – as interpreted through the eyes of artists.

“Lockdown offered us all the opportunity to reconnect with our interior spaces”, says Guest Curator of the exhibition, Emé Paschalides. “Until now, the inside of people’s homes was private, a world only discovered upon invitation, but the pandemic has granted us unexpected glimpses of the private environment of TV presenters and co-workers as home filming and videoconferencing became the order of the day. These interiors can make powerful portraits and, when rendered artistically, they can also deliver reflections and convey a compelling interiority”.

While the theme of interiors and interiority is topical today due to restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, this genre of painting is centuries old. It first appeared in Europe near the end of the 17th century – a period which reflected a growing self-consciousness in the history of art. It then enjoyed great popularity in the second half of the 19th century, when it became fashionable to commission paintings of private rooms to show off and preserve for posterity. Increased importance was given to the home as a place of comfort, intimacy and family at this period and these careful, detailed representations of a living space allowed viewers insight into private spaces that were generally off limits. Similarly, the pandemic has forced many of us to spend time at home and to reconsider our interior environment.

“It is a genre that has been largely forgotten and rarely explored but that has come back to the forefront during lockdown,” explains Paschalides. “It is with the above in mind that we have selected works portraying a range of interior spaces, inviting the visitor to approach each work on display with the degree of intimacy it calls for and to consider what intimacy an artist’s chosen space might express.”

Featured artists include: Maureen Andersen Berry, John Bird, David Bridgeman, Gladwyn K. “Miss Lassie” Bush, Randy Chollette, Megan Ehman, Kathryn Elphinstone, Kent Greene, Tessa Hansen, Paige Jordison, Charles Long, Chris Mann, Art Pasquali, Raphael Leigh Powery, Sally Prior, Pippa Ridley, Gordon Solomon, Nasaria Suckoo Chollette, Simon Tatum. The exhibition also includes works from the National Gallery’s permanent collection, the collections of the Cayman National Cultural Foundation, the Cayman Islands National Museum, and several private collections.

The exhibition runs until 25 November, 2020, and is open from 10:00AM – 5:00PM, Monday to Friday. Admission to the gallery is free and can be booked via https://www.nationalgallery.org.ky/visit/welcome-back-to-ngci/timed-booking-entry-form/, or by calling (345) 945 8111. Private or group visits can be booked by emailing reception@nationalgallery.org.ky. A supporting programme of events, lectures and workshops will be available shortly via https://www.nationalgallery.org.ky/whats-on/ .