Speaking at a press conference at his Quamina Street, South Cummingsburg base yesterday, Chin said the exhibition, which will be hosted from February 12-19 under the theme, ‘Glimpses of Guyana in the Twentieth Century’, has been in the making some ten years. He said the event would be “truly a co-operative effort” which reflects collaboration between the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, the public and private sectors and “individual enterprises”.
Chin said the pictorial exhibition will feature some 2,000 pieces which showcase historical, cultural and social events in Guyana’s history over the past 30 to 40 years. The Ministry of Culture has thrown its support behind the exhibition by making the Umana Yana in Kingston available as a venue for the event.
According to Chin, while the event may draw daily viewings from the general public, he is hoping that the Ministry of Education could arrange visits for school children so that they could learn more about Guyana’s rich cultural history. Ideally, Chin said, he would want the exhibition to be taken to other parts of the country including, Town Day events.
The pictures which will be on display will be presented to the public in themes, among them Mashramani, Guyana’s fires, schools, churches, as well as hinterland features.
His recollections have spawned over 485 nostalgias, published locally and in periodicals overseas, and according to him, his book Godfrey’s Nostalgias-Golden Memories of Guyana 1940-1980 is an international bestseller.
Chin has hosted pictorial exhibitions at various venues across North America, including Vancouver in Canada and in the US in Washington DC, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Orlando. Since he returned home, his exhibits have been displayed at the National Library, St Stanislaus College and Queen’s College reunions, the Banks DIH pavilion as well as at GuyExpo2009.
When asked for his opinion on the development of the social and cultural sector in Guyana over the years, Chin said he has observed some amount of growth in the various disciplines over the years. As regards the quality of Mashramani costumes on display at previous anniversary celebrations, he said the various Mash committees have been doing a good job, adding that more emphasis should be placed on the use of local materials in the design of costumes.
Chin expressed confidence that altruistic members of the public and private sector will support the exhibition, which he said would be “truly an enriching cooperative experience” for the upcoming 40th Mashramani celebration.
