Public paintings n° 171

This by all means this is a dilapidated building in St. James, Trinidad West Indies. Thousands of people pass by it everyday but do they ever consider it as a work of Art?

From the flakes of paint n° 171 is an old wooden colonial building that shows the beauty in its composition, in its tones of tortoise and gray blue which has been weathered by the Caribbean sky.

Candelabrum in St. James

In Judaism, a candelabrum with seven branches is used in ceremonies to symbolize the seven days of Creation. The graffiti artist who is responsible for these Judeo-Christian inscriptions has done his home work. The candle stick indeed has seven holders along with some biblical quotations that occupy the walls of a cemetery, St. James, Trinidad.

Before the current influx of graffiti artists, dating back from the 1990s, this work and works like it was sprayed in blue paint in parts of the capital, Port of Spain.

King Cobo - John Stollmeyer

Muda of mudas, fada of fadas ,You belong to the Earth, de Earth does not belong to you, I am General Motors, the World Bank, granulated sugar, the creater of the population explosion

For visitors to Trinidad and Tobago, this is one of our traditional carnival characters called the Midnight Robber. King Cobo, performed by John Stollmeyer is a sample of its role to upkeep the traditions of Carnival from the grip of commercialism.

The King Cobo character's concept was born, as Mr.Stollmeyer explains in 1990, Toronto's Caribana . In 2000, King Cobo dies and this is the incarnation as his mother, Nikita B Nekbet, the vulture goddess of Upver Nile. listen to his speech in its entirety on youtube. It should be noted that the honking of car horns is an acknowledgment of the performance.

Brooklyn Museum shows Art of the Caribbean

Foot in the door - How to trick your audience

The current exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum, New York is showcasing upcoming contemporary artists from the Caribbean. Curated by Tumelo Mosaka, the theme is based on artists who best represent the region. Entitled, Infinite Island, the exhibition is of forty six artists, and their work full the upper floors of the Morris A. and Meyer Schapiro Wing.

Contemporary Caribbean Art is difficult to define as Contemporary Art lends itself to interpretation to those who lack a reference point. There is the general consensus that it has become gimmicky and contemporary artists are using every attempt to justify the quality of their work by attaching some sort of relevancy in its meaning, hence, a table is a table or the platform to address a subject of cohesive matter.....

For a younger audience, this may enlighten the very aspect that in Art, anything goes as long as debate over its theoretical backing exists. Yet, a table, objects, installations, branding, technical drawings leave less to the imagination. Based on the Exhibition Catalogue, this is a quick walk through, no stopping, no intrigued, and sadly no heart. Contemporary Art is dead or just too sterile to evoke any emotion. How much more can the audience except this as art depending on their taste, if that matters at all.

Above, from the Catalogue, Trinidadian Steve Ouditt , a poor reproduction of an installation which may not be the work exhibited as with a number of plates seen in the book. Mr. Ouditt used a series of graphic based iconography as call cards to reflect the political status of Trinidad and Tobago.

Primarily, Infinite Island, touched on the globalisation of American culture, the rituals of religion still practiced in the Caribbean and hinted on the flirtation of sexually. Infinite Island, August 31, 2007 till January 27, 2008 Brooklyn Museum, New York.

To the left, Authentic Caribbean Art from Trinidad and Tobago. A sculpture made out of bamboo for the Divali celebrations in 2007. The helicopter is used as a surveillance device. On the 31st of December 2007, it was used to enjoy the New Year's fireworks.

Jackie Hinkson + Queen's Hall + Blackmas

At Queen Hall, a theater for the performing Arts in Trinidad and Tobago, the foyer is hosting an exhibiting of twenty three Carnival charcoal drawings by Jackie Hinkson. It is a body of work that has been recently produced in 2007 and others that dates from 1996.

In the compositions, Mr. Hinkson shows vignettes of Trinidad and Tobago's carnival by his observation and by his interjected social motifs. In its energy, in its tradition and of its people, his drawings are puns on contemporary society which are representational of Trinidad and Tobago. Mr. Hinkson's later works are less detailed. His strokes are softer and parts of the composition appear to look incomplete. He should either simplify the form or push the gamma of grays to give his drawings the intensity and depth of field exhibited in his earlier works. Yet, it is in the message, in his choice of character (the Midnight Robber) that evokes his satirical stance as his strolls across the streets of Port of Spain, preaching to those who neglect to see.

Mr. Hinkson has often eluded to Francisco Goya as an influence to the satirist view on society. Goya is known for representing the ills of man which he captured the inhumanity of his motherland Spain via its subversive insurrection. Either way, Jackie Hinkson is recording Trinidad and Tobago as its landscape changes. In its architecture, political climate and people.

Blackmas continues till the 31st, January, 2008 at Queen Hall, Port of Spain, Trinidad, West Indies. Here is the opportunity for visitors to island to peek at a culture that seems untamed in its multiplex energy to be creative, yet loss in its direction in a social goal. The drawing above is a detail of a large panoramic view at Viey La Cou. This is where traditional carnival characters such as the Pierrot Grenade (centre) perform. See his mural on the outer facade of the hall.

Mission not Impossible

From an overheard conversation: She belly high, dat sweet to fock

A wall painting entitled, Mission Impossible, Trinidad, West Indies

In a quaint part of Princess Town, Trinidad, West Indies, in one of the local bars called Obsession, a wall painting brings some humour to patrons who may be a bit intoxicated to even care. It is an airbrush painting of a couple who have sex on their mind but also have physical compilations to consummate the act. . The artist has illustrated a pregnant women pleading to her partner for some pleasurable coition. At the looks of it, he is competing with her by the tremendous amount of weight in fat folds which he carries over his belly. But don’t mind this, men generally find innovative means to overcome the predicament. Sooner or later she cyett getting lick up and he totee getting suck.

Cyett: Vagina
Totee: Penis

Is four women holding up meh car ?

This may be lifted from an automotive part ad promoting car shocks. Here is another version which has already been written about. Yet it is the delight which the artist took to illustrate the nude pinkish women as part of the car suspension.

In a mechanic shop on the old southern main road, a replica of a pin up, Trinidad, West Indies.

Bobiesingh yuh see yuh name deh ?

There is no explanation needed here other than not seeing your name written in chalk on the expel board. In many rural bars across Trinidad and Tobago, misbehaving patrons will be barred from entering the bar if their names are listed

A blackboard in a decrepit building, San Fernando,Trinidad.

Vishnu in concrete and paint

Vishnu as a mural in concrete and paint. The decorative relief is on the wall of a small temple in a private home. Eastern main road, Trinidad.

Vishnu is described as the all-pervading essence of a all beings, the master of the past, present and future and the creator and destroyer of all existences. It has been brought to attention that the mural is more likely a portrayal of Saraswati, the goddess of wisdom. Thank you for your observation.

The future

Focus strength creativity and change



The concept of Trinidad and Tobago as a paradise is shown here by this mural on a metal panel. There is the coconut shell as a face with flowers, a palm tree and steel drums over a setting sun. It is a paradise we hope for at at time of uncertain, social neglect mixed in with greed and disrespect.