I believe it is important for us to tell our stories the way we want them to be heard.

 – Paul Lewin

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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.

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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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Untitled

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.

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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.

www.paullewinart.com