The Bermuda Government’s Brussels Office was pleased to host its inaugural Cultural Diplomacy event, an occasion which spotlighted acclaimed Bermudian contemporary artist Gherdai Hassell.
Held recently at the Bozar Center for Fine Arts the event marked a significant milestone in Bermuda’s international cultural engagement, introducing Hassell’s work about Bermuda to a European audience.
This unique event included a collage workshop and a tour of the “When We See Us” exhibition, which showcased Hassell’s artwork “A song for many Movements”.
The piece originally debuted here on island in 2021 at the Bermuda National Gallery in her first solo exhibition. Guests from the Brussels diplomatic and cultural communities gathered to experience her work and engage in cross cultural dialogue.
Today, Aliyyah Ahad, Head of the Brussels Office said, “We are so thrilled that Gherdai was selected as one of the 120 late and living artists to be included in this groundbreaking exhibition. While most of the Brussels Office’s work focuses on defending Bermuda’s economic interests, as Bermuda expands its presence on the international stage, it is also important to create platforms to promote and celebrate Bermuda’s culture and creatives.
“Gherdai’s work exemplifies the strength, creativity, and global relevance of Bermudian artistry.”
Hassell, who holds degrees from the China Academy of Art and the University of North Carolina Greensboro, has exhibited internationally, with recent shows in the UK, U.S., Bahamas and Bermuda. Her work reclaims and reimagines diasporic histories through collage, textiles, and portraiture.
Ms. Hassell said, “It’s an honour to represent Bermuda in Brussels and to be a part of this first cultural initiative by the government’s European office. Art is a universal language, and this event was a powerful reminder of its ability to connect people back to themselves through creativity.” The exhibition closes in Brussels next week, and then will travel to Stockholm.
The inaugural Cultural Diplomacy event was organized by Brussels Office intern Nahjé Smith.