Art Exhibition at Old Labourers’ Quarters, Trianon

In the context of the National Commemoration of the 192^nd Anniversary of the Arrival of Indentured Labourers in Mauritius the National Art Gallery in collaboration with the Aapravasi Ghat Trust Fund is organising an Art Exhibition at Old Labourers’ Quarters in Trianon on the 02 November 2026.

Visual artists are invited to submit proposals in diverse forms of art to transform the indoor spaces of the quarters, with each selected artist assigned a dedicated room to create a site-specific artwork.

This exhibition aims to offer the public a visual exploration of life in the period of indenture. By examining the organisation and daily functioning of these spaces, the artists will explore the rich intangible cultural heritage and collective memory transmitted by indentured labourers.

The Exhibition Theme is “Motifs and life”

The theme “Motifs and Life” invites artists to examine the intersection of utility, tradition and symbolism. Participating artists are encouraged to explore the material culture, everyday habits and traditional clothing of the period of indenture.

To create an authentic dialogue between the artworks and the site’s history, artists will construct their pieces primarily using traditional and natural materials representative of the era. Artwork will be installed on the floor only, in accordance with the site’s conservation requirements.

The artwork shall:

1. Provide insights into the daily lives, domestic spaces and labour conditions within 19th-century sugar estate camps.
2. Highlight the enduring intangible cultural heritage, patterns and traditions preserved by the indentured community.
3. Offer contemporary local artists a platform to engage with historic architecture through site-specific, material-based interventions.

The selected artists will be allocated a sum of MUR 15,000 to support the cost of materials. Artists are invited to visit the Old Labourers’ Quarters in Trianon before the submission of their proposals.

The Proposal Form including the Conditions for Participation is available:

• For download on the website and the Facebook Page of the National Art Gallery- Mauritius;
• By emailing on natartgal@intnet.mu;
• Or can be collected from the Beekrumsing Ramlallah Interpretation Centre, Aapravasi Ghat World Heritage Site, 1, Quay Street, Port Louis and at the National Art Gallery, Suite 10, Lancaster Court, Lavoquer Street,
  Port Louis.

Deadline

The deadline for submission of proposals is by 4.00 p.m. on Monday 19 October 2026:

• By email to natartgal@intnet.mu;
• By post or hand – dispatched in a sealed envelope clearly marked “Motifs and life” on the top left corner, to the National Art Gallery.

Date: 09 October 2026