‘Dancing’ piece tops Divali art competition

Salim, student of the Chaguanas North Secondary School won $2500 in UTC TT $ Income Fund Units and also won TT$2,000 for the purchase of art supplies for his school. Children from schools across Trinidad and Tobago enter the UTC Divali Art Competition annually.

“This year the Competition theme, ‘Celebrating the Light Within,’ seemed to inspire a whole new level of artistic talent,” said Gayle Daniell-Worrell, vice president Marketing and International Business. “The artwork continues to wow us and we don’t envy the judges.”

This year’s distinguished panel of judges included Susanne Nunez, Dhanesh Maraj and Ruthven Walkins. “When I started this painting I began to wonder about the most enjoyable part of Divali,” said Secondary School category winner Shannez Salim in the description of the watercolour and pastel work.

“Everyone seems to have fun and religious devotion as they enjoy lighting the deyas (at Divali).” Salim chose two main subjects to symbolise this – “the main character is divided into two actions, the realistic gesture of lighting the deyas and the foreground gesture of dancing is representative of the feeling and emotion associated with lighting the deyas.”

A slightly more traditional approach was taken by the winner of the UTC Primary Schools’ Divali Art Competition, 12-year-old Adrian Maraj of Guaico Presbyterian School. Maraj said he was inspired by his “love of art” and used vibrant colours of pink, yellow, green and blue to capture the Hindu Goddess, Mother Lakshmi atop a Lotus flower with two white elephants in the background.

“The white elephants symbolise strength and stability of peace despite many adversities,” said Maraj. “Hope with the ‘illuminence’ of inner light” is what Divali means to Maraj.

“By decorating our Customer Service Centres for Divali, hosting our annual Divali Celebration at our Chaguanas Customer Service Centre and, of course, hosting the UTC Schools’ Divali Art Competition, we at the UTC hope to raise the level of appreciation for Divali and the festival’s impact on our society,” said UTC executive director Marlon Holder at the award ceremony for the Art Competition on Wednesday. The executive director praised the children’s artwork and encouraged their parents to continue to encourage the development of their talent.

A full list of all winners of the 2009 UTC Divali Art Competition can be found below. To view the artwork of the finalists and for more information on the UTC Divali Art Competition visit www.ttutc.com or visit the UTC Divali Art Competition Blog at http://utcdivaliart.blogspot.com.

Primary Schools

1. Adrian Maraj - Guaico Presbyterian School

2. Richard Pulchan - Couva Exchange Presbyterian

3. Jael Daniel - Arima Presbyterian School

Secondary Schools

1. Shehnaaz Salim - Chaguanas North Secondary School

2. Carina Sieusankar - Naparima Girls High School

3. Reuben Gonzales - San Juan Secondary School