I believe it is important for us to tell our stories the way we want them to be heard.
I’ve always had a love for the art of storytelling. It’s been a part of my culture since the days of our ancient ancestors. My work is a way for me to continue this tradition in the language I’ve always known best…visual art. With painting i am able to create my own stories and reflect on the history of my ancestors. Like those who came before me art has played a very important role in my life. It helped me through many dark days and gave me a better understanding of who I was, where I came from, and where I am headed.
The Offering
For the early Afro-Caribbean communities artistic expression was a vital tool in the struggle against colonization and keeping ties to their ancestral past strong. Creativity and storytelling were a means of cultural survival in unfamiliar lands. I find this similar, to what we as descendants of the diaspora, experience today.
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Growing up on a steady diet of tv, video games, sci-fi and fantasy I was submerged in a world where i saw very little representation of characters similar to myself. Art allowed me to insert bits and pieces of my own experience into these stories and give them new life.
Divine Kingdom
Over the years, my work has been influenced by indigenous folklore, tribal cultures, religion, and ancient societies. Old folklores, legends, and rituals re-imagined through new experiences and new ideas of self. Much of my work takes place amidst the backdrop of sci-fi and fantasy. I like to mix traditional Caribbean and African motifs with surreal visions of nature and the ancestry that surrounds us daily. I want each piece to tell its own story.
Many times a story unfolds as I paint and i try to allow it to form without too much thought. I also try not to give away too much with each piece. I like to allow for the viewer’s own interpretations to be apart of the experience as well.
My work is also the story of myself and my own journey. I believe it is important for us to tell our stories the way we want them to be heard.
