Karl Broodhagen (1909 – 2002) was a
Barbadian sculptor and painter. His most famous works are three public statues in Barbados: the
Bussa Emancipation Statue
The Emancipation Statue is a public sculpture symbolising the "breaking of the chains" of slavery at Emancipation. It is located in Barbados, east of Bridgetown at centre of the J.T.C. Ramsay roundabout formed at the junction of the ABC Highway and ...
, a statue of Prime Minister
Grantley Herbert Adams
Sir Grantley Herbert Adams, CMG, QC (28 April 1898 – 28 November 1971) was a Barbadian politician. He served as the inaugural premier of Barbados from 1953 to 1958 and then became the first and only prime minister of the West Indies Federa ...
, and a statue of cricketer
Garfield Sobers
Sir Garfield St Aubrun Sobers, (born 28 July 1936), also known as Sir Gary or Sir Garry Sobers, is a former cricketer who played for the West Indies between 1954 and 1974. A highly skilled bowler, an aggressive batsman and an excellent fielder, ...
.
Biography
Born in
Georgetown, Guyana
Georgetown is the capital (political), capital and largest city of Guyana. It is situated in Demerara-Mahaica, region 4, on the Atlantic Ocean coast, at the mouth of the Demerara River. It is nicknamed the "Garden City of the Caribbean." It is t ...
, Broodhagen moved to Barbados at the age of 15 to become a tailor's apprentice. While working as a tailor, he began to paint in the 1930s and to sculpt a decade later. He established the art department at Barbados'
Combermere School
Combermere School is a school in Barbados, notable as one of the oldest schools in the Caribbean, established in 1695. Its alumni include several leading cricketers, David Thompson, sixth prime minister of Barbados and other politicians, several ...
in 1947; after studying at
Goldsmiths College
Goldsmiths, University of London, officially the Goldsmiths' College, is a constituent research university of the University of London in England. It was originally founded in 1891 as The Goldsmiths' Technical and Recreative Institute by the Wor ...
in
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
in the early 1950s, he returned to Barbados and taught at the school until 1996.
In addition to his public statues, Broodhagen primarily created portraits and busts; he described the focus of his work as being "interested in people".
He particularly focused on women, and stated in an interview that he sought "to replace the European standards of beauty still slavishly accepted in the West Indies by standards based on the local inhabitants themselves."
His works have toured internationally and are included in
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...
's collections, and he was awarded the
Gold Crown of Merit
The Order of Barbados is a national Order of honours and decorations for Barbados.
History
The first Order of Barbados was instituted by Queen Elizabeth II by letters patent dated 25 July 1980. With Barbados becoming a republic on 30 November ...
in 1982.
He died at home in 2002, aged 93.
Gallery
Sir Grantley Adams statue, Barbados.jpg, Statue of Grantley Herbert Adams
Sir Grantley Herbert Adams, CMG, QC (28 April 1898 – 28 November 1971) was a Barbadian politician. He served as the inaugural premier of Barbados from 1953 to 1958 and then became the first and only prime minister of the West Indies Federa ...
Sobers statue kensington.jpg, Statue of Garfield Sobers
Sir Garfield St Aubrun Sobers, (born 28 July 1936), also known as Sir Gary or Sir Garry Sobers, is a former cricketer who played for the West Indies between 1954 and 1974. A highly skilled bowler, an aggressive batsman and an excellent fielder, ...
References
External links
Karl Broodhagenat ''Barbados Pocket Guide''
Karl Broodhagenat ''Totally Barbados''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Broodhagen, Karl
1909 births
2002 deaths
Alumni of Goldsmiths, University of London
Barbadian painters
Barbadian sculptors
People from Georgetown, Guyana