Reporter
matthew.chin@guardian.co.tt
The Art Society of T&T is showcasing 71 pieces of artwork from the studio collections of 53 of its members. Mediums used by the artists ranged from acrylic, oil and watercolour to mixed media and sculpture.
One member of the Art Society, Mark Joseph, who is no stranger to exhibiting at the gallery, said he began doing art when he was a student at Queen’s Royal College. There, he honed his skills in recreating pouis, birds, and local landscapes through painting. Soon after, he delved into photography and began to use his photos as references for his subsequent art pieces.
For the exhibit, his work Zoo Poui was put on display which the artist had created using acrylics back in 2022. He said he took approximately two weeks to finish the 24’’ (H) x 18’’ (W) painting, returning to his canvas on and off while balancing the demands of his job as a software developer.
“This piece took about two weeks to finish, about an hour and a half a day,” Joseph said.
The 31 year old enjoys being part of the Art Society as it is a place where many artists, he said, can get to know each other and have their art exposed to wider audiences.
“It’s a pretty nice space, you get to meet a lot of the local artists, you get a lot of exposure, too. So, different gallery owners would probably be here as well. When you come on an opening night, you meet a lot of people,” Joseph said. President of the Art Society, Keiba Jacob Mottley, said that the turnout of submissions for the show was more than they anticipated to the point some artists were turned away.
“It was heart-warming to get so many submissions, however, we did have to turn away some artists,” Mottley said.
She noted the quality of submissions over the past two years to the gallery has been improving, with some artists who would have exhibited years ago now returning to the venue.
“We’re now seeing returning artists, some from ten years ago coming back to the Art Society. More sales of artwork are happening, too. I am really proud of our artists,” Mottley said.
Another realist painter exhibiting their work is self-taught artist Susan Correia. Unlike Joseph, she admitted that she had never touched acrylics.
Although many artists typically use either acrylics or oils for their masterpieces, the self-taught artist prefers water-based paint which she described as an “emulsion”. She loves recreating T&T’s buildings and landscapes on her canvas using photographs for reference.
“I drive around and capture the light. I read some years ago in an art book that said, ‘Art is all about light and shadow’; it gives a three-dimensional look to your work,” Correia said.
Three of her pieces were selected for the show: Memories of Country Club (2020), Golden Days (2016), and The Banana Patch (2019).
“This (emulsion) doesn’t fade; it’s amazing and very forgiving, you can wipe out any error. I have no desire to try anything else,” Correia said.
While talking with Correia, she considered the country’s talent as amazing and one of a kind.
“I think Trinidadians are amazing with their gifts, I mean ... when you look around and see the work, it can make you go, ‘Wow!’ but you have to be careful because it can sometimes make you feel like you’re not good enough,” Correia said. She lamented that artists, even those with years of experience and critically acclaimed, often sabotage their self-confidence when they compare their artistry to other artists.
“I know a very well-known artist, and she does extremely well, she said something to me once that made me stop and think, she said, ‘When I look at your work I feel to take mine and throw it in the dust bin.’ But when I would look at her work, even though it’s different from mine, it’s fabulous.”
“All artists go through this.”
Asked if she has ever had a solo exhibition before, she said yes, having shown at the Art Society and also in the comfort of her home which she said had been successful. This year, however, she will not be hosting a solo exhibition. Correia comes from Petit Valley and works as an art teacher. She teaches people at their homes, supplies their canvas, and allows her students to choose their own subjects.
Following Gems of Trinidad and Tobago which began on February 21 and runs until March 9, another consignment show will allow the country’s gems to show off their talent towards the end of March into April.
Admission to view the gallery is free and is open to the public from Tuesdays to Saturdays, 12 pm to 6 pm.