Kevin Osepa’s new work centres on the fading tradition of Ocho Dia, the eight-day mourning period following a funeral on his native island of Curaçao. In the installation, he reflects on both personal grief and the collective sorrow over the gradual disappearance of this custom. The work forms part of a living archive devoted to the fragile survival of Afro-Caribbean rituals.
The jury on Kevin Osepa
The jury commends Kevin Osepa for not only visualising the consequences of colonialism through his unique lens, but also transcending them. His mystical-realistic stories offer an alternative to dominant Western narratives and aim for holistic unity. In doing so, the artist moves compellingly between different cultures and histories. The jury believes that his layered approach creates a profound and innovative oeuvre.