pictures of the floating world | post-colonialism

Rooted in historical context, the series confronts the colonial legacy that took root from the 1620s and 1630s onwards. Non-Hispanic privateers, traders, and settlers carved permanent colonies and trading posts on Caribbean islands neglected by Spain. This narrative of colonization spread across the Caribbean landscape, spanning from the northwest Bahamas to the southeastern Tobago.

The aftermath of Spain's 15th-century colonization of the Caribbean gave rise to a system of sugar planting and enslavement. The echoes of this era reverberate in discussions of postcolonialism, encompassing themes of marginalization, identity, multiculturalism, hybridity, mimicry, and migration. These elements form the threads of a complex tapestry that encapsulates experiences such as slavery, migration, resistance, and responses to imperial discourses.

Postcolonialism encompasses a historical period representing the aftermath of Western colonialism. Simultaneously, it undertakes the project of reclaiming and rethinking the histories and agency of those subordinated under various imperial forms. Amid this discourse, individuals navigate the spectrum of retaining similarities to colonizers or seeking a return to pre-colonial roots, often seeking a nuanced balance.

The trajectory of post-colonial literature unfolds in three phases: adopt, adapt, and adept. This evolution mirrors the multifaceted ways in which societies engage with and respond to their colonial legacies. Postcolonial theory opens intellectual spaces for subaltern voices to articulate their cultural discourses, facilitating a balance between the imbalanced power dynamics of colonists and colonial subjects.

The consensus in the field is that "post-colonial" (with a hyphen) signifies a period that comes chronologically "after" colonialism. "Postcolonial," on the other hand, signals the persisting impact of colonization across time periods and geographical regions. Amid this intricate landscape, this series ventures into visual narratives, shedding light on the intersections of power, culture, and identity within the context of post-colonialism. The series invites viewers to engage with the complexities of the Caribbean's post-colonial discourse, offering insights into the enduring legacies of history and the resilience of its people.