“2 Train” is the final piece in a larger body of work—Belong-ing—a longitudinal exploration of my connection to home, to culture, to Barbados. Each piece in this series was created during periods of personal transition and mental fracturing. What began in tension, anxiety, and fragmented memory slowly unfolded into acceptance and honest reconciliation. Belong-ing is the physical manifestation of the levity found on the other side of healing.

The first work in the series, titled “Belong,” marked a turning point. Inspired by the colors of the Bajan flag, what started as aesthetic appreciation evolved into a cathartic release of shame. As a queer Caribbean man, navigating identity amidst cultural expectations brought deep internal conflict. Art became a practice of deconstruction and reconstruction—a way of learning to feel whole in daily life. To be “Belong.”

“2 Train” (24" x 24", framed mixed media on canvas) is a reflection on my relationship with my mother and the cultural forces that shaped her—and, in turn, shaped me. We grew up hearing stories of our grandfather, a studious yogi whose calm, commanding presence lingered beyond his life. We were raised by Granny Norma, a lifelong health and social services worker who instilled discipline, posture, and purpose. “2 Train” envisions the world through the eyes of my mother and uncle in their youth—reimagined through a modern abstract lens.