Basil Watson in 2021
Watson with the National Windrush Monument

Basil Watson, OJ CD (born 1958),[1] is a Jamaican sculptor.

He is the son of painter Barrington Watson,[2] and the brother of sculptor Raymond Watson.[3] He was honoured with the Order of Distinction, Commander Class, in 2016, in recognition of his artistic accomplishments.[4]

Watson completed a sculpture entitled "Balance" in November 2006, which was installed at Doctor's Cave Bathing Club in Montego Bay, in honour of the club's centennial.[2] Meant to depict the harmony between man and woman, the sculpture is of a standing nude man with one arm outstretched over his head, and an inverted nude woman balancing on one hand, with her hand supported by the man's upraised hand.[2] In total, it is 15 feet tall.[2]

In December of that same year, he completed a statue of sprinter Merlene Ottey, which was installed at Jamaica's National Stadium.[5] The bronze sculpture, which is eight feet tall and weighs seven hundred pounds, depicts a running Ottey reaching for the sky with her right hand.[5] Prime Minister P. J. Patterson presided over the statue's dedication.[5]

Another work of Watson's was added to National Stadium in November 2009, when Prime Minister Bruce Golding unveiled his sculpture of sprinter Herb McKenley.[6] Watson described the task as an "honour" and a "privilege", citing the esteem in which he held McKenley.[6] He said that when designing the work, he drew from multiple images of McKenley created at different times in his life, in order to bridge the gap between McKenley's youthful accomplishments and his popular renown in his old age.[6]

Works by both Basil Watson and his son Kai, a painter, were exhibited in New York at the fifth annual "Art Off the Main" exposition in October 2008, sponsored by the Savacou Gallery.[7]

That December, Watson was added to the list of artists invited to provide works for the National Gallery of Jamaica's National Biennial exhibition.[8]

He was chosen from four finalists to create the United Kingdom's National Windrush Monument, which was unveiled at London Waterloo Station in June 2022.[9][10]

References

  1. ^ "Basil Watson: Art of a jamaican Sculptor" Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine, Anancy Magazine, 1 December 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d Housen, Claudine. "'Balance' on the Beach Archived 12 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine", The Jamaica Gleaner, 26 November 2006.
  3. ^ "Watson's 'journey continues' Archived 19 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine" The Jamaica Gleaner, 16 October 2009.
  4. ^ "Outstanding Jamaicans Honoured at King's House", Jamaica Information Service, 18 October 2005.
  5. ^ a b c "Ottey Honoured with Statue". Archived 17 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine Jamaicans.com, 9 January 2006.
  6. ^ a b c "McKenley statue to be unveiled tomorrow", Archived November 27, 2009, at the Wayback Machine The Jamaica Gleaner, 24 November 2009.
  7. ^ "Caribbean art showcases at NY exhibition" Archived 10 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine The Jamaica Gleaner, 26 October 2008.
  8. ^ "The 2008 Jamaica National Biennial, December 14, 2008, Jamaica" Archived 27 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine Jamaicans.com, 10 December 2008.
  9. ^ "Basil Watson chosen to design national Windrush Monument". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  10. ^ "The perfect storm: Basil Watson creates the National Windrush Monument | Art UK". artuk.org. 22 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
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