Nostalgia

Nostalgia is a sentimental yearning for the past—an emotion this exhibition explores through Bahamian genre paintings. These works capture the beauty of our cultural landscape, depicting familiar flora, architecture, and people. Artists like Alton Lowe and Eddison Godfrey Rolle portray real locations, where the people who shaped them are as central as the scenery itself.

Inspired by movements like Romanticism and Impressionism, artists such as Eddie Minnis take liberties in their depictions, omitting modern elements to evoke an idealised past. Spanning 1961 to 1996, the twelve selected paintings succeed in their timelessness—Lorenzo Roker’s Pine Barrens (c. 1975) could exist in any era, while Peggy Hering’s Bain Town (1984) contrasts lush vegetation with everyday life. These impressionistic choices create picturesque narratives that mask the realities of island living.

For some, these paintings simply showcase artistic skill. But for Bahamians, they stir a deeper longing for “simpler days.” Through omission and emphasis, the artists prompt reflection: How have we changed? And isn’t it always a joy to remember?