ART103 Local and International Artists

1. Canute Calliste – a primitive painter from Carriacou whose work is about local and political issues surrounding the island.  He produced paintings of mermaids since he claimed that around the age of nine a mermaid told him in a vision that if he followed the bible he could achieve anything he wanted.  His paintings are child-like and also quite unique.

2.  Edna Manley – an English-born Jamaican sculptor.  She carved her sculptures out of cedar, mahogany and redwood and even bronze.  Her early works were geometrical which later became more rounded.  They were influenced by Jamaican culture, the new consciousness and Jamaican independence.  Negro Aroused (1935) is one of her artworks signifying the struggle of the black man to break free from slavery into freedom and also Jamaica’s struggle for independence.  The statue is that of a man pushing himself out of the ground with his face looking towards the sky.

3. Le Roy Clarke – a Trinidad artist also known as one of the Caribbean’s premier artists.  His works are symbolic and represent his understandings as a person, in a place and through time.  They involve the use of colour and motifs reflecting the energy and vibrancy of our people and the Caribbean region.  He had a deep sense of pride in his African heritage which can also be seen in his work.  In “Towards the Apotheosis of El Tucuche one can see various human and animal- like figures interwoven in a mystical space appearing like stained glass where geometric figures such as triangles can be seen.

4.  Peter Minshall – is known for the art form called mas or costumed masquerade in the Carnival of Trinidad.  He makes “visual symphonies” which includes variations in colour, shape, movement and gesture portraying themes of political satire, global social issues, deep spirituality and pure abstract aesthetics.  The dance macabre (1980) is a chilling death masque which is one of his most outstanding pieces.

5. Jean Michel-Basquiat is a graffiti artist whose style of painting begain with images of New York City along with skeleton-like figures and masked faces.  This later became collages and writing on canvas.  His work is heavily influenced by his African Identity and by events in African-American history.  One of such pieces is called Pyro.