Digital meets traditional at Joshua Solas’ exhibition Until Such Time

Until Such Time, a solo exhibition by Jamaican visual artist Joshua Solas, presents a bold reimagining of Jamaican cultural narratives through the lens of contemporary digital culture.

Scheduled to open to the public on December 16, in this innovative series, Solas transforms iconic symbols and rituals of Jamaican life into captivating, meme-inspired works that challenge traditional artistic representations. From the streets of Kingston to everyday cultural touchstones, Solas’s work pulses with visual vitality while maintaining critical depth and cultural resonance.

“Until Such Time points to some time in the future and implies there is a difference between then and now ... change needs to be made and the place need fi fix up,” Solas stated.

A joint effort between Bad Art Gallery and Narrative Curatorial, the exhibition brings together a team of arts professionals including co-curators Antwain Clarke and Kerry Chen, who crafted an immersive journey through contemporary Jamaican visual culture.

Chen noted that Solas “offers a radical reimagining of Jamaican visual art through the groundbreaking memefication of both local and global experience”.

“By transforming traditional narratives into viral, shareable moments, Solas reveals how meme culture has become our most potent contemporary language ... a dynamic, democratised form of expression that transcends geographical and artistic boundaries. These works don’t only represent Jamaica, they demonstrate how digital vernacular is reshaping our understanding of cultural representation in the 21st century,” she added.

PLACE-HOLDER

According to the artist, the exhibition “is intended to be a place-holder”.

In a press release, he shared that he believes that “every work is a sketch for the next one. As such this collection of works is a reflection on the past and present with aspirations for the future”.

The show will feature more than 20 original works spanning mediums, including silkscreen on paper and mixed media onboard. These pieces will be displayed through a unique combination of traditional wall mounting and custom sculptural easels across both gallery spaces at 10A, the iconic home of Perry Henzell and The Harder They Come (1972), creating a dynamic viewing experience that challenges conventional exhibition formats.

The exhibition is expected to draw a diverse, multi-generational audience, from young digital natives and art students to established collectors and cultural enthusiasts. It represents a significant moment in contemporary Jamaican art, where traditional cultural narratives meet the digital age’s visual language.

Joshua Solas is a contemporary Jamaican visual artist known for his innovative approach to cultural representation and as the founder of S O L A S I N K, an artistic agency whose focus is on telling stories through captivating visual media. Solas’ work explores the intersection of traditional Jamaican culture and modern digital communication.

Until Such Time will run through December 29 at 10A King’s House Road.