The Bermuda National Gallery’s 2022 Bermuda Biennial opened recently to a crowd of more than 200 people — and comes with a twist as poetry is being included for the first time.

Peter Lapsley, the executive director of the gallery, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary, said: “The exhibition is very strong and we have some familiar faces in artists such as Charles Zuill and Jonah Jones, but also some artists new to BNG such as Sabriyya Harvey and Jahbarri Wilson.

“There is a tremendous range of work, and with the inclusion of poetry this year it has a depth of artistic exploration that epitomises what the biennial is all about.”

Mr Lapsley said there are also two public works, one by Jacqueline Alma and the other by Antoine Hunt.

He said: “Jacqueline’s work is currently installed on the east lawn of City Hall & Arts Centre and Antoine’s artwork will begin installation soon.”

The biennial’s theme, A New Vocabulary: Past. Present. Future., asked artists to reflect on the past two years and to imagine what the future might hold.

More than 100 submissions were received and 32 visual artists were chosen to participate, alongside 11 poets.