Supriya James

"Roots".

“Roots” emanates temporality, magic, and the sublime via the artist's usage of bright colour palettes and abstracted form.

““Roots” is a metaphysical exploration of memory, temporality, and the sublime.In 2023, I returned to my country of birth, Guyana, in South America, after having immigrated to Canada 43 years ago. I wanted to test my childhood memories – memories I promised myself that I would never forget - against the realities of being physically present in this tiny, developing country located at the northern tip of South America. This was a journey made of dreams that unfolded into myriad realities, some beautiful and some not.“Roots” has bittersweet sensibilities as it manifests my overwhelming joy and trepidation of being on and in the magical, tea-coloured waters of the Essequibo River that runs through the mysterious Amazonian rainforests of Guyana.Along the Essequibo River my old memories collided with new ones. The screeching parrots flying across the sky, the scorching heat, and the bright colours of the flora– all synthesized into a transcendental journey. These waters transported the Arawak (Lokono) peoples, their descendants, and my ancestors, who initially came to Guyana from India, as indentured servants. As a child, it was in these waters, I giggled and splashed amongst the tropical fish, while fishing with my father who is no longer alive. In these sublime waters, I heard the voices of my parents, uncles, aunties and forebears I had never met.My work appeals to the need for the protection and preservation of the Amazonian rainforests and the Guyanese people before the potential devastation of further oil drilling and war with Venezuela”