Sunday, November 15, 2009

louise bourgeois Maman



Louise tell meh she fed up wit de spider, I tell she but why, is you who does do it, but is I who do it better wit meh plum tree branch *....Miss lady, you eh see noting yet..Yuh eh see Who He Feel He mark up meh wall, I not cleaning now yuh write meh and tell meh is AHHHHHTTTT.


louise bourgeois' Spider

*The Plum branches cut used in this art work was necessary as the tree itself needed to be pruned

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Christian Who He Feel He -The Holy Virgin Mary-2009

madonna

Feinin – Chris Ofili, The Holy Virgin Mary, 1996

The concept of these feinin studies are to parody the works of artists. I use whatever props I have, and try to assert the least amount of energy producing them, but importantly as closely to resemble the original work. I have fooled readers thinking that I owned the piece. They are all self portraits photographed by a timer. Sometimes the camera does not fire when I pose, or things just fall off my body while I am being photographed. These are the challenges I face.

With Chris Offili, I had the opportunity to see his painting, "Iscariot Blue" which is about Parang. Mr. Offili as you may know is responsible for the infamous painting, "The Holy Virgin Mary" which was deemed sacrilegious. The parody is more about him, and the value we place on art, he also lives here in Trinidad.

What I have learned is not to take your work too seriously, whether some pieces are termed works of art, that's left to you and the History books. Now back to meh next Feinin, I see it already, ogood, is jinks, meh ca do dat, but wait .....dem know already.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Lady wit meh flower - Chris Ofilli


A set of flowers used for his Feinin

As part of Chris Offili's feinin I wanted to use artificial flowers which I did not want to buy. I also purchased the red tights and top to give a carnival festive feel. I approached a variety shop in Port of Spain and the woman at the counter was kind enough to give me a bag full of damaged plastic flowers which I promised to return to her as a Christmas wreath in gratitude. I made a flower arrangement instead and presented them to her the following day. The clothes items where returned as they were too tight.

More demanding was trying to photograph Ofilli's posture as I observed him and his wife dance at Peter Doig's home some months ago.




Photo studies of Chris Ofilli's feinin. It should be noted that these stills were long exposures compounded by a camera that is notorious for miss-focusing. A large format digial camera may have worked to my benefit.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Christian Who He Feel He



Christian Who He Feel He and He Wife in ah Christmas Parang Fete night sweat


Iscariot Blue - Chris Offili - Me see me self as he, say dem foreign

Monday, November 09, 2009

Man in Polyester Suit series 1

Ahdela Toad - Meh know she well


She beg meh to do she so I do she



Ah tell she dis morning is he, so he say to do he

Lapeyrouse Wall - Peta Donk



Feinin wall - Dem forget I have dem. But meh eh shame me forget dem already...

peter-Doig

Peter Doig - Lapeyrouse Wall

Dave Williams denies role over Proyecto Capital

Dave

miss Williams at Alice Yard

Dem tink he is good, dem feel he does dance la modern, dem eh know he history. Since small miss Dave playing wit Black Barbe dollie after he walk in he fadder bedroom and see he wit ah life size blow up dollie. Dave ca remember, but he say he like how he fadder bamsee look. Is like dem Baptist dat does catch de fit in church and mess wit man on woman*.

Is Government school he go when principle call he sister to question why he join de elastic team and hand clap in pairs. At home miss Dave dream of musical box as ballerina and see he self spinning wit fairy tutu. One evening he look down in he shorts and wonder why he box deform. Sister tel he dat is call ah nanny in proper and pussy if big man raft wit it. miss Dave tell someone far dat he so and so stick out from he shirt pants. He say is funny like it ca breed. Soon after miss Williams attend Bishops and study chemistry, science and rubbing he small wood wi pencil tie wit two rubber band. Den miss Dave brave put he wood inside pencil case and he feel it grow den stick, only den Miss call he to de blackboard to sum. From de desk she look at he pant smiling brood, fanning she leg and firing signal to he. You is 12, add 6. Dave remember, “As meh walk front to de blackboard, ah girle tap meh P. box wit she ruler and tell meh to measure de size. Me wood inside vanish and de case fall out meh pant leg and drop on de floor. I tell she is 4 cm metric, de ruler she say lie, is only tree”.

Dave find out is big people know and he trust dem fully. Story is if ah nanny mature wi Afro round it, it is ready for inspection. De mature wood have name call toto, it join wi stone. Dave say he hear dat man does use it hard and go crazy when pussy open to invitation jamming it tight. Is later second man does scream, Oh Jesus Woman and brush it and de totee does reload and empty tree time. He figure out dat evening is whitee cream stain between he thighs like glue, and practice over and over de word jock and break like if he ready to sit 11 plus exam. He feel sick when he ca read, is blind reach for he vice. miss Dave gone fete and dance de modern under strobe light wit he Abba tune;

Friday night and de the light low
Looking for ah place to go
Where dem play de right music, getting meh in de swing
Yuh come to look for ah king
Anybody ca be dat mans
Night young and de music sweet
With ah bit of kiaso music, everyting is fine
Yuh in de mood for ah wine
And when yuh get the de chance
Yuh is ah flaming Dancing Queen

When light dim pitch dark and Kiaso play, is winning wild from side to side and in between whe he find strange. miss Dave stick wit dancer and he wood get in between and he in heaven. Is cacahole pretend to be nanny whe.

Is years now and miss Dave is Queen’s Dance Hall holding red clot mast like he ready to sail wit Columbus. He does do modern danseuse like spider man sticking on wall and dropping, but I say is like batee man he really crave to disguise and fly late in de evening to suck victim dry. Is only he train in dance to scale cemetery wall, roll in dirt to find secret bull and taste flour paste like juice.

Ah say miss Dave yuh tell meh is free money at de Yard to pay for de ticket to see yuh dance in front, around and at de back of dem Common Head of State Waste Coming Twice and Quiet Go. Prase de Lawd. Minshall go hunt yuh down wit he four stick if yuh plan to do he invent, walking dead man procession on de Grand Stand wit Carnival Christmas decoration Brian Mc fal in. I pass yuh standing in yuh National costume, I know were de banana hide. Yuh spot meh bold, and ask, IF I TAKE ALL FOR LATER. Ah say I leave ah scent for dem to never forget. Ah still have small coin in meh bag and I go re-cirulate it in ah envelope and slip it in Cassava box. I see dem fall from meh, I say, all dem coin have stink vice, meh want noting to do wit it.

* Reported that parishers engaging in sexual intercourse during the exorcism of spirits act.

Saturday, November 07, 2009

Proyecto Capital - Alice Yard Trinidad

The Proyecto Capital installation opens to the public at Alice Yard …… Audience members can participate by taking the found coins away. All are invited – Alice Yard

Proyecto-Capital

An artist caught collecting a cent from a drain, Trinidad, West Indies in a project called, “Proyecto Capital” is a collaboration of three artists, Alejandro Mina, Mar Molano and Michelle Isava

Source: Proyecto Capital

Este proyecto parte de la observaciòn. En los recorridos hechos caminando por la ciudad de Puerto España es posible encontrar una gran cantidad de monedas en el suelo, aparentemente insignificantes para la mirada local, pero para la mirada forànea resulta llamativo en comparacion con la ciudad de Bogota y otras ciudades. La idea es recolectar las monedas de la calle y registrar el proceso para luego hacer una instalaciòn que pretende despertar reflexiones frente a este gesto de arrojar y recoger para luego reinsertarlas en la sociedad cambiando el valor capital por el valor simbòlico.

Michelle Isava writes:

“We have collected 500 5-cent coins, 987 25-cent coins, 498 10-cent coins, 7 50-cent coins (although they are no longer in use)…. This installation seeks to give value to what is not valued here in Trinidad. To foreign eyes, coins on the streets are an absurd enigma that represents the extravagance and wealth of Trinidad and Tobago.”

Soon after their The Proyecto Capital slide presentation at Alice Yard on Friday 6th November 2009, Alice Yard announced that guests were free to participate by taking away the found money all gathered in pile located in the centre of the gallery floor. A man then walked to the installation, stooped down and preceded to collect the coins with a hand brush and dust scoop all the money in his bag. The Colombian artists began to panicked as they saw all their efforts being taken away. Only a Cent was left behind as a reminder to never give away your money so freely for the work you have done to earn it. He then offered the money to the audience by allowing them to take a hand full from his bag. Some did, others did declined and ten he left Alice Yard with total sum of money estimated to be $300.00.

m-a

Miss Cassava, yeh eh see meh coming?

Me ain’t know why dem artise does do per-formance in middle of de road counting coins dem does find in nasty canal, deep pothole and drain. I does hope dem does wash dem finger and toe nail after. I big art installation and me scan d money already. Dem talk, dem show pict-ture, den dem clap. Talk over is show now to see. I see dis Cassava bleed inside she, when dem say TAKE DE MONEY IS FREE, is blight who say it and I obey he and full meh bag quick wit dust pan and brush. No pict-ture please.

Den all fight break out wit
Alice Yard man who steups. Dem all looking like ass when realize is early. I say I offer dem de money and some take hand full and is right because de rest LEGALLY is mine. I take meh time, watch de woman bicycle at Brooklyn bar den is straight to Cassava Cassava and I ask she to put meh bag content in ah black plastic and plop it dead centre on she child bed like is show in de Alice Yard box. When Cassava reach she home, she bawl out, ” Oh Mami,” but is when she see de note and all de coins, is steups and laugh at de same time. If she open she el Espanol mout, is prison I sending she. Is lessen I teach dem whatless fools to give way prize so quick.

Monday, November 02, 2009

Carmen Cocoa Payol Miranda and Miss Daisy

carmen

Carmen Cocoa Payol Miranda posing in front of de foreign, Queen Park Savannah Miranda,

Is big movie production in front meh coconut stall and me staring in foreign TV document exposing oui sweet T&T cul-ture. I current live wit meh husband just up Mayaro beach side. Today yuh meet me in special Cocoa Payol dress, is Arima cuatronets parang group I going next. Meh Daisy and me-self have we dance routine, and competing in Scouting for Talent show, if she feel she winning, is I know Holly B like meh sweet Cocoa Payol water wit meh tick soft jelly. I carve he ah pattern spoon / pendent fa around he neck wit meh cutlass tip, showing me-self hanging on de cross for de sins Miss Daisy already done in she life.wit meh cutlass tip, showing me-self hanging on de cross for de sins Miss Daisy already done in she life.

Director, I is born on de twenty fort of De-cem-ber oooo, and when me open meh eye, I see Daisy entire La Divina Pastora Serenaders wit man holding shac-shac, box base and cuatro playing like big gutar. Me eh know which who is meh faddars, but is Cocoa Payol plenty in meh blood. De bass player ah see have teet missing nipping wit Bushrum flask. Next ting doctor slap meh wap wit two Maracas on meh bamsee and I open meh mout and rendition Serenal e Aguinaldo in two verse, "Parang,Parang,Parang,Parang in Trini-ne-dad, Parang,Parang,Parang,Parang in Trini-ne-dad". Is only now after all dese years is bass player wit no teet now nipping Babash wit straw in meh coconut shell, announce he is the one who win de raffle prize.

I does tell Miss Daisy to follow meh steps and when she does her meh Cocoa Payol voice, is jealousing and vaps jorting meh Punch -a- Cream bottle, taking big serious slice of meh centuries rum soak cake, wit de preserve well cure. After she now convert she religion, is still big chunk of pig she take and boldface raff all de chow chow. Ten hops missing already from de pack. I know she does tief meh lyric, dance move and Pastelle recipe den is private function I does met she in selling Pastelle wrap wit rubberband and fold wit old Nestle Stay Fresh box foil. Once bottle pelt at she singing, I not telling…

Is first class Cocoa Le Catalonia I does teach to meh De Carmen Cocoa Payol Miranda Singers, de upcomming youts does get anxious to surround meh while I centre wit meh two christening Maracas and block Miss Daisy from in front. Daisy ain't easy,she once jook meh skirt wit ah pole and raise meh dress high when dem could see trouble, dem bawl dem ready to play meh and serenade between de lips, is Miss Daisy flag have meh wicked. I teach meh children never visit is rude fas ting happing. Look she reach to jook meh, is twice ready.

Wit all dat fliming meh business yuh better pay meh and buy meh nuts cause I holding de Pat Tang right under yuh chin.




Meh husband reach, I hope I ain’t leave de place in ah mess, look he send down he nuts

Glossary of terms
Arima - A borough of Trinidad known for Parang
Carmen Miranda - Carmen Miranda 1909 -1955 a Brazilian actress popular in the 1940s
Daisy Voisin - 1924 -1991 Queen of Parang in Trinidad and Tobago
Cocoa Payol - Migrant labourers who came from Venezuela to Trinidad in the late 19th century.
Scouting for Talent - A television talent show hosted by Parang MC King, Holly Betaudier
Parang - Spanish rooted music played during the Christmas
Maracas - A popular bathing beach in Trinidad and a musical instrument otherwise known as the shac-shac
Hops - A bread bun
Bush Rum / Babash - Over proof white rum
Pat Tang - The sound the machete makes
Pastelle - A cornmeal pie fill with meat popular at Christmas wrapped with banana leaves and steam cooked

Friday, October 30, 2009

Susie Wong at Amber Light District


Miss Wong that is a work of art, it's not for sale like how you present yourself

Is now I get off meh day evening shift and de WASA truck driver push meh out in de junction wit plenty Red, Amber and Green light. Me accustom to Red, but is now I invite to plus extra shift at Singer Measuring Tape Artise Modern showing. Dat is a clott district playwhe 7 two ball plus, me like to play wit 12 wit four ball. I see is big iron......gate and is New York security lock meh down one time. I stand like cat woman when dis zamie scan meh leg high and brush meh cat slight. I say yuh focking paying meh, is $200 reach already.

I see dem long walkway, is dark, dark and playwhe 7 far, so I protection wit Carib bottle neck to damage dem mans, womens, dogs, horses and when I is in heat, donkeys to scar dem face if dem try to outsmart meh, watch good is plenty around I do. I walk brave when dis big focking landrover chicken coop nearly lick meh way and pelt meh on de side of de road where I is accustom, I say dat fowl better not be Amber cause I just razor up dis week meh cat and call it ah Susie just in case.

I see tick Singer Measuring Tape wood sign and I stoop down and pull-out meh Macintosh Plantain Pro 17inch to see if meh web cam working and read meh email invite. I slip it back wit ease. I see stair like World Trade and dem all strong strapping firetruckman dead in vain and dem prick waste, I pray dem getting plenty brush in Heaven. I raise meh leg on de landing and work and rub each time, is higher and stronger till I mount de last step, I release, meh cat smile and make meh sheer pantie hose flint and cause flame between meh legging.

As I reach dem Cobo look so, and so and so like chicken neck when dem man,women, dog, horse and donkey use to eye around meh cat wit dem totee eye and mout. I watch junior sec painting... and remember..... ah remember but I ca remember, or is handicap International Art expo. Meh ain't see Amber light, but meh see candle light in church anyhow build under tent. I say, why dem eh tell meh is dis, I win Miss Best Village prize ready, and meh in Sunday best, when is table clott garment and tie dem expect.

amber

Amber light district, Singer Measuring Tape Artise Modern, National Housing Tenants playwhe 7, bu, bu, Susie yuh tief ah Amber?
.

As ah surprise dem pay full and to meh too is plus extra shift I must wok, dem Cobo expect meh to brush small Amber special wit book reading option. If meh cat have to wok separate shift, dat is not meh business, I does like to catch up on meh night reading bible, so far preface II, I reach after ten year. Meh eye pick up on de jumbie dark wor-king obeah on de side, den I see Amber dark jumbie skip and hopscotching straight in front. Meh see Le Crapo preacher Paris visit wit ah visage to cause meh cat to zip up like Nun and fock free everyting in site, include de two iron pillar holding up de roof ready.
.

Amber jumbie in Artise per-for-mance calling spirit to wake in front of National Housing Tenants. Dem still grinning at he wit teet. Le Crapo hopping, me say why dem eh trow fish net to hole he still. Is is sudden meh cat unzip, just so and meh body Belfon Bicycle in reverse. Meh knee begin to exercise wit thigh master double and I dream of donkey........ I feel I catching meh Best Village past..... Dance de Bellair oh Dance de Bellair...Me centre on Grand Stand Stage, representing meh Village, me, dance like Queen bee, de soca drumming have meh head in ah spin, meh wagang spirit leaving meh cat..and ah artiste spirit taking over. I is now I begin to dis-cover I is ah ........Where de garbage truck to buy meh art supple, like old wood, roof nail and scrap find car-nival stick in bead costume wit Elmer.
.

Meh cat slap meh quick, Susie Wong is five years yuh still have life in and sideways. I raise meh skirt invisible, and wand and dance meh way out of de place. Ah jump on de hand railing backwards and ride and lub up for free, I take two short and one long drop to de iron gate front, I cuff down and take meh money, and scar de security wit de bottle neck still for being a stinking zammie cause me never focking going back. I wave down every maxi taxi full wit man till I reach territory, meh Wood-Break and meh backseat five door mattress, is home free I is. Is home free I is. I tink all meh life, meh nanny look after meh when I skin down hill, meh nanny watch meh bruise. Is meh nanny who teach meh so to stand like cat woman, is meh nanny I do so remember.

Susie Wong is the pumpkin vine sister of La Diablesse

All Rights Reserved

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

For thy Kingdom come



It was the moment when Schiller wrote, "Forsake them too, rise God". God sang, forgotten from the mysterious past, raped though the eons of time where Kings rose to the occasion. I am forgoing thee, my soul seeks no one. I am alone you see.

Hail Schiller lord of magic.

The pharaoh wept, his time had ended, containing the gift of rule, his too was dissolved into flakes that rushed into the Nile, if only he knew where man had reached. God, where do you free those in the bosom of me, God why, if he sang too, why am I not with thee.

Hail Schiller lord of magic.

Disclaimer:

Views expressed are not affiliated with any Art Organizations and an “Art Review” may be open to interpretation as it is an observation at face value. Amendments to such articles if misleading or with grammatical errors shall be corrected accordingly. All photographs and accompanying quotes, articles and visual headers appearing on site are the exclusive property of Richard Bolai © 2009 All Rights Reserved.

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