Heritage exhibition showcases 35+ indigenous artworks at Castellani House

The Amerindian Heritage Exhibition is once again alive with colour, creativity, and culture – this year featuring more than 35 Indigenous art pieces, each one a window into the stories, traditions, and imagination of Guyana’s first peoples.
The works, created by six artists and one craftsperson, are being showcased at Castellani House as part of the annual observance of Amerindian Heritage Month.
Curator Ohini Kowama explained to this publication that most of the pieces were produced by Arawak artists with roots in St Cuthbert’s Mission, a community long recognised for its artistic heritage. He noted that the exhibition blends different artistic approaches, with some artists leaning on modern and symbolic forms while others focus on traditional techniques rooted in heritage.
“Some of the pieces are of a modern approach; they would be in the term of abstract art or symbolic art, but it’s really inspired by the Indigenous heritage – that is, the basketry designs and the ancient petroglyphic writings. The works are really inspired by their environment. You won’t see a lot of city scenes or donkey carts. Instead, you see animals, trees, and landscapes. It shows you what they pay attention to – their environment and geographical location.”
He added that several of the paintings rely on what is seen, capturing subjects as they appear.

“It’s a particular skill to paint to represent something that you see. While it may not be regarded as the most advanced technique, it still requires a high level of technical ability. It reflects and records what is of the time or what the artist has in their imagination. Sometimes it even merges representational art with elements of abstraction.”
Kowama encouraged patrons to look past the surface and appreciate the finer details in each piece. He noted that the artists’ use of colour and technique brought harmony and deeper meaning to their work, each capturing an aspect of Guyanese life.
He also urged the audience to value what was being portrayed before them and, where possible, invest in a piece to begin building their own collection.
The exhibition also features sculpted works, crafted primarily from locally sourced woods. Kowama explained that this choice of material is both practical and cultural.
“Wood is a very accessible material to most artists in Guyana. Of course, we have sculptors who go beyond wood to show versatility, but the artists here are comfortable with carving in a variety of woods: banya, purpleheart, and even exotic types that many people don’t know about. It adds value to the work, and all of it is found in the very environment they live in.”
Adding to the showcase is one of Guyana’s most seasoned Indigenous artists, Oswald Hussein, whose decades of experience bring further depth to the exhibition. Reflecting on his sculptures, Hussein said, “The sculptures that I’m creating have to do with the nature where I live, where I was born, and my surroundings. They inspire me, and I love to bring them into 3D. It was never really about an idea for an exhibition – it was always a part of life for me, something I do to make myself feel good.”
Hussein, who is the oldest artist in the group, noted the importance of longevity in art.
“We started off many, many years ago, and I’m still here. I hope to go further, because artists never really die.”
Amerindian Heritage Month continues to showcase the contributions of the nation’s first peoples. In 2025, the observance takes on renewed resonance with the theme “Igniting Unity, Celebrating Progress, Advancing Our Culture”.