Navigating Transformation in Dominique Hunter's Cusp Series

How do we grow when life constantly shifts beneath our feet? When movement and stillness intertwine, where do we find balance? These questions lie at the heart of Guyanese artist Dominique Hunter’s ongoing Cusp series, a striking exploration of transformation, presence, and resilience. Through her use of the human form, nature, and symbolism, Hunter captures the tension of what she calls mini migrations, the repeated uprootings and resettlings that shape both personal and creative journeys.

Highlights from the Series

Among the works in the series, three stand out for the ways they capture different aspects of Hunter’s vision.

Persist: The Art of Endurance

Persist embodies determination and the quiet strength required to endure. The figure, entwined with delicate vines, leans into challenge with measured resolve. Every gesture speaks to effort and persistence as a necessary part of growth. Through this work, Hunter communicates that transformation is rarely instantaneous. It is a process that requires courage and steadfastness, much like the mini migrations that inspire the series.

Quiet Knowing: Strength in Stillness

Quiet Knowing stands at the emotional centre of these highlights. The figure is poised, arms crossed, crowned with blossoms, while birds and butterflies drift around in gentle motion. There is a calmness here that contrasts with the struggle of Persist. This work invites reflection and embodies self-possession and inner balance. Hunter reminds us that resilience is not always found in action. Sometimes it is cultivated in stillness, observation, and quiet awareness.

Surrender: The Freedom of Release

Surrender presents vulnerability as a source of strength. The figure opens to its surroundings with fluidity and grace. There is beauty in letting go, in allowing oneself to yield to the flow of change. Hunter portrays release not as defeat but as an essential stage in transformation. It is a reminder that growth is cyclical and that embracing impermanence is often the pathway to renewal.

Nature, Body and Symbolism

Across the series, Hunter employs recurring motifs that enrich the emotional depth of the work. The Beach Morning Glory plant represents resilience and impermanence. Birds and butterflies signify transformation and freedom. By incorporating her own body, Hunter personalises these symbols, creating a dialogue between self and environment. Each element reinforces the overarching themes of motion, adaptation, and emotional navigation.

The Series Beyond These Works

While Persist, Quiet Knowing, and Surrender are highlighted here, they are part of a larger series that continues to explore the nuances of mini migrations and transformation. Hunter’s Cusp series invites viewers to consider their own journeys, to notice the moments of effort, reflection, and release that shape who they are. In a world of constant motion, her art reminds us that growth is found not only in striving but also in pausing and allowing transformation to unfold.

You can view the full series on her website here: https://www.dominiquehunter.org/cusp