Aubrey Beardsley at J'ouvert carnival 2009

Oh lawd, God give you dat


Copyright © 2009 Richard Bolai

A J'ouvert masquerader uses a classic Aubrey Vincent Beardsley illustration to take back the power of women whose likely parody are portrayed during carnival, Trinidad West Indies

The artist Adele Todd decided this j'ouvert to bring out a costume with a different twist. And by all means it was a ghastly large erect prosthetic penis attached to her pelvis. The costume was designed so that her manhood could swing, poke, provoke and tease any passerby who contemplated its girth. The reaction to this Aubrey Beardsley the examination of the harald were a mix of exultation by women and awe by men who felt necessary to compare themselves to it. The experiment Todd said was the underlining taboo which both women and men feel about sex, and of their inner urge expressed openly on the street by treating it, the penis as a symbol of fertility, pleasure and ritual respect.

Read her personal reaction on sexypink

Adele Todd on the streets of Port of Spain carnival Monday 2007, Trinidad and inciting excitement from all members of the society

Women, women and security men - Carnival 2009

Copyright © 2009 Richard Bolai

Feathers, feather and high heels. women ruled the streets, Port of Spain, Trinidad

It didn't matter where you walked sooner or later you bounced up a carnival band that made the streets impassable. Carnival bands were divided by many sections and populated by women of all creeds, heights and sizes. The harem were protected by a sea of security with some men imitating a SWATT tactic team.




Carnival 2009 left you wondering what was the point, and an event that was forgetful to what you had witness on a rather light cool and drizzly Tuesday. Female masqueraders although took their time to look their best and one went a little further to catch the spotlight. The pair of stiletto heels she said were kept on for the duration of the day and then they were taken off periodically to alleviate the pressure off her feet. All for vanity, all for looking good. No matter the disparity in gender, women ruled the streets and their bodies by shaking off any juvenile boy who tried to steal a wine.

Waiting patiently in queue members of Harts line up to use the portable toilets which moved along with the band and had these masqueraders chasing the can, Along Mucurapo road, Trinidad. West Indies

Harts had its share of revelry as displayed by this Hart-o-lite. She eagerly wanted to show that she knew it all, and that raising her arm you needed a flag along with a bit more vigor in music. But then, an imperfection in the road tripped her concentration. One wonders if she was trying too hard or were her bandy legs the cause of it- Bless her blue poom poom (hart).

A quiet sailor band member chipping towards Tragarete road, Port of Spain, Carnival 2009

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Chipping: A type of march that resembles trotting in snow.

A storm quite tame - J'ouvert 2009

Copyright © 2009 Richard Bolai
Local media personalities in a lock down, J’ouvert, Trinidad and Tobago, 2009

3canal’s J'ouvert began quietly and built up to a tame and orderly dawn fête mixed with paint and mud. No one left unscathed as a light war of colour factions pelted globs of paint into the air. Some masqueraders ran for cover and others surrendered peacefully tempered by a rhythm section and an army of willing drones who inseminate sweat on sweat by an all out ritual wine.



Masqueraders please do not hang on to the truck

J’ouvert masqueraders at 3canal band and a masquerader who showed her manhood under her gown to the delight of many women and a few brave men who touched it

The calm before the storm

Copyright © 2009 Richard Bolai

A large trailer soon to be converted as a bar or food court to cater one of the many carnival bands, Port of Spain, Trinidad

On the streets of Port of Spain, many street vendors were putting up their tents and arranging a variety of drinks, food menus and snacks for public display as inviting as possible. Some had slept together with their possessions including pots of Pilau protected by a tarpaulin and by the carnival, try to make as much money gods. In other spots such as a body paint outlet, airbrush artists were preparing to casts masqueraders with their inner fantasies as motifs of animals, tonal beauties or street nudes to again push their illusions of themselves in public. Nevertheless, this is the calm before the storm and by tomorrow, clean white walls would have shared the human spirit in mud, paint, oil and temptation. The daybreak bacchanal called J'ouvert..

Is ah miracle

Copyright © 2009 Richard Bolai

An ingenious ploy to repair dentures as well as replacing car mufflers at the same premise, St. James, Trinidad

Vernet Polly friend mudder teet began to act up after she drorts down a dry fish pie and a peice of bone jook up in she gum and damage she dentures. She began to stups and complain to she husband spraying she stink breat over de man oily hard face.

Tam Foot, her husband was distracted by she mouth and sink down in a pothold. Next ting the muffler start dragging on the road and start causing sparks as if he fired up a set of Chinee fireworks. At the corner, dem two eye spot a sign over dey.

Light show at Maracas Valley RC church

Copyright © 2009 Richard Bolai

An Roman Catholic church est.1890, St. Joseph, Trinidad, West Indies

In a rural part of Maracas, St. Joseph, Trinidad and Tobago, an old Roman Catholic church is closed or under restoration. The chamber which may have been packed with Sunday parishioners praising the Virgin Mary and other Saints has moved to a smaller hall next door. But inside the building, amidst the debris and rotten wooden rafters, there was a natural colour light show casts by the arched stain glass windows which projected a mirage of Saint Gabriel, Mother Teresa and Francis of Assisi on the floor.

Attending one of these church sermons boils down to owning up and repenting your sins early in the morning so you may be cleansed for the following week of Fête-ing in all those all- inclusive parties leading up to Carnival, 2009. One young man who was smartly dressed in his all white garb, sang, recited and prayed with his arms outstretched as he caught the spirit of God. This was in sync with the rest of the congregation as they were bombarded by hymns based by sins of their own doing, and lead by a musical rhythm section whose singing pitch and note key had the Devil laughing.

A light show inside the chamber of an empty church.

But soon after the service, Mr. Saga Boy was caught on his cellphone ready to work up a week of sex before marriage, drinking and debauchery laid out by the priest in his sermon hours before. Just remember to bring your collection money, those wicker baskets have a long cleansing stretch for bills that have a purple hue to it. They just work miracles.

Red Cross Children's Carnival in the blazing heat

A mas helper on hold, Red Cross Children's Carnival 2009

At the Queen’s Park Savannah, the Red Cross children Carnival began promptly in the blazing Caribbean heat. This is turn sent the whining bug to attack the little masqueraders who fell victim to it. Children as young as four years old worked their lower bodies too low and too provocative in comparison to such dance moves many years back. One very young masquerader attempted to do what she saw others doing. A bit rough and jerky with her wine, but next year, who knows, her waist may rotate like a all greased up ball bearing.Yet, in the atmospheric carnival bliss, the little masqueraders edged themselves onto the Queen’s Park Savannah stage and kicked in the symptoms of the wining virus to the delight of the audence. Dem sure is Carnival babies *



Little girls, follow the Wajang - Red Cross Children’s Carnival, Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Carnival Baby : Any child conceived during Carnival, mostly on Monday then on Tuesday to be doubly sure

Above Group - Branding a talks series

L.A.M.E - Chris Leacock - Bold and Beautiful beauty competition screened at Abovegroup, Trinidad West Indies

At the Abovegroup Branding agency at the former CCA7 building, a launch of a series of visual presentations hosted by artists commenced with the photographer, Alex Smailes and painter, Che Lovelace. As to kick off the series, Mr. Smailes showed his portraits of a competition that involved cone speakers which appeared to be a deejay sound off in the fields near Piarco with the large speakers mounted on vintage cars. The recordings, Smailes joked were old 78 R.P.M. Indian love songs from the 1950s. Each Datsun 260c or Hillman Avenger Saloon for an example were fitted with an amplifier / record player / 8track tape deck and operated by slick oily hair comb back deejay. Che Lovelace presentation surrounded a lengthy description of his paintings and process soon to be a published as an Artist book later this month.


What is a "Mic Man? Alex Smailes explains his new work about to be published by Intersection magazine.

Gareth Jenkins explained that these monthly events at Abovegroup can follow the following disciplines: Graphic Design / Photography / Advertising / Branding / Writing / Poetry / Illustration / Architecture / Interior Design / Furniture Design / Landscape Architecture / Urban Planning / Typography / Identity / Chocolate Blending / Spirit Blending / Publishing / Fashion Design / Retail Design / Jewellery / Sculpture / Music / Film / Animation / Fine Arts / just about anything else.