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.
![Everything-Souful-paul-lewin-5](https://everythingsoulful.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Everything-soulful-paul-lewin-3-800x597.jpg)
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.
![Everything-Souful-paul-lewin-5](https://everythingsoulful.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Everything-Souful-paul-lewin-7.jpg)
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.
![Everything-Souful-paul-lewin-21](https://everythingsoulful.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Everything-Souful-paul-lewin-21-800x399.jpg)
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.