Tate Britain today unveils GRACE, a major new commission by Venezuelan artist Alvaro Barrington. This expansive installation, set in the museum’s Duveen Galleries, combines sound, painting, and sculpture to explore the influence of women in Black culture on Barrington’s life and work. The installation honors three significant figures: his grandmother Frederica, close friend Samantha, and mother Emelda.
GRACE is divided into three acts, reflecting Barrington’s Caribbean carnival heritage and his upbringing in Grenada and New York. Visitors enter under a suspended corrugated steel roof, reminiscent of the artist’s childhood memory of seeking shelter during a tropical storm in Grenada. The soundscape features rain, selections from online radio station NTS, and newly commissioned music. Rattan, plastic seats, and textile works create intimate spaces within the vast hall.
At the center of the galleries stands a four-meter-high aluminum sculpture of a dancing figure, representing Samantha. The figure is adorned in “pretty mas” style of a high femme carnival aesthetic, with jewelry, costume, and detailed nails. Paintings and large archway canvases depict carnival scenes, inviting visitors into a celebratory community space.
The final act in the North Duveen gallery features a stained-glass window illuminating a kiosk sculpture, alluding to American prison cells and issues of mass incarceration. Church pews with quilt-covered pillowcases face this somber scene, inspired by Barrington’s experiences in New York and reflecting the fears and hopes of Black mothers for their children.
“GRACE showcases Barrington’s talent for translating personal history into powerful, immersive art,” remarked Alex Farquharson, director of Tate Britain. “We look forward to seeing how visitors engage with this significant work.”
