For many the words "West Coast" call to mind a very specific kind of imagery, one inextricably linked to ideas of stardom, wealth and quite often, excess. Guyana's own West Coast and West Bank areas, on the other hand, are far removed from the typical associations of artificially tanned/toned bodies sprawled across white sandy beaches, set against a backdrop of high-rise condominiums.

 

A still-developing space surrounded mostly by farmlands, Guyana's West Coast/Bank boasts a different kind of wealth: a green wealth that translates to fertile soil and an abundance of crops that supply local, regional and international markets.

 

Views From the West is an ongoing series of digital collages that explores the unique aesthetic of Guyana's West while also examining the relative quietness of the space as a site that allows for the indulgence of my own self-care practices.