Times of the Islands Summer 2024

The beginnings—Bamboo Gallery
On a grey, cold, and rainy afternoon in January 1990, I
found myself amidst the familiar landscapes of Hamburg,
Germany—my birth city. Only a month prior, I had relocated
to the Turks & Caicos Islands. I had found a place
to live on Providenciales, paid a deposit on a retail space
for my art gallery, and navigated the labyrinth of bureaucracy
inherent in an overseas move—establishing a bank
account and applying for a work permit and business
license, among other things. This brief return to Germany
was to tie up loose ends, a seemingly simple task. Yet,
in those days, the complexities of German bureaucracy
made those of TCI appear a walk in the park. Ironically,
today both have evolved into equally convoluted systems.
Anyway, this was it. I was leaving Germany for good, after
11 years, heading back to the region of my childhood.
On that dreary afternoon, when the phone pierced
the silence it brought long-distance news from the
Turks & Caicos Islands. “Titus,” came the voice of the
local real estate agent, who, in a twist of fate, is now
the Honourable Premier, “I regret to inform you that your
business license application has been denied. But don’t
worry, we’ll resolve this upon your return.” His words lingered
as I hung up. A few weeks later, I found myself
The art shows hosted by the Bamboo Gallery in the 1990s became
synonymous with “must-attend,” showcasing local and quality Haitian
art. Here, Titus de Boer stands with the late Phillip Outten, one of the
local artists often showcased at the gallery.
DENISE DE BOER
Former Bamboo Gallery artists (from left) Patricia Moore, Dwight Outten, and Pamela Leach, with art promoter Titus de Boer at a recent reunion
lunch in Providenciales.
40 www.timespub.tc