Shawn on a mission

THERE is a deep-seated reason why TTPost awarded Shawn Peters the contract to design its first issue of the Fruity Fun children’s stamp. Undeniably, it goes beyond his creative mind and a knack for painting. The truth is, the ambitious artist believes in art, he lives by it and has developed the ability to “tell it like it is,” to project the exact representation of his message in his work. That’s no easy task. As laughable as it may sound, some of us even find difficulty in conveying simple verbal expressions.

Those who caught a glimpse of his artwork in the newspaper a week or so ago were exposed to a totally different side of the 30-year-old. The drawings of local fruits — lime, mango, guava — were a welcome change from the heavy issues he tackles in his paintings. Take for example Trinbago as he sees it in his $5,000 exhibit — “From icons to eye-cons, we go dancing.” At a first glance, it can be a bit morose — a mass of faceless people partially hidden behind a central figure. And as you look closer, newspaper headlines become apparent. They carry a theme — a burning issue, as his use of fiery colours suggest. Shawn related the meaning: “I see our society as fast degenerating. The quality is not what it used to be and everybody seems to be padding it. Nobody wants responsibility, no one wants to say ‘I am a part of it, I can foster change.’”
              
He pointed to a headline within the painting which read: “Second bandit dies.” The story had hit home. “I knew the guy who was killed,” he said. Shawn, who resides at Paradise Gardens in Tacarigua, lived in a rough neighbourhood where crime was commonplace. “My ideas came from everyday life... I have a lot of concerns.” To construct his painting, he employed the use of pens, pencils, newspaper clippings and wood. He is also a sculptor. His second exhibit was reminiscent of growing up with his grandmother, whom he referred to as the “backbone” of the household. “I call it ‘Matriarch.’ It is a profound sense of being female. We need more matriarchs in the home rather than just mothers.” Profound indeed! He continued: “I am an artist with a mission not for the purpose of painting merely to decorate walls. I believe art is far more than that. It is a medium by which a dialogue ensues and hopefully from that dialogue, change would come... Art is serious business, you know. I doh take it lightly.” His work is mainly abstract and realistic paintings. He didn’t foresee this ending when he left secondary school with the desire of becoming a meteorologist.
 
“I had everything worked out, to go to college in England. Then my grandmother died and put a new spin on everything. She was my everything.” He was quite popular among the art students at Tranquillity Government, who would approach him for help on their School Based Assessment (SBA) art projects. When one of his teachers noticed his potential, she made attempts to secure him a spot within the art class, to no avail. “I dropped out of A’ Levels at Polytechnic and signed up to do a course in jewelry at John Donaldson (Technical Institute). I knew it was something in art I wanted to do.” Along the way, he learned a few art techniques from Makemba and Leroi Clarke at Studio 66. Today, a few of his paintings are on display at local art galleries. Occasionally, he logs onto the Internet and seeks out experts in his field, with whom he trades art techniques. “I’m always talking to foreign artists from Canada, Germany, USA, Jamaica on issues surrounding art. I realise how much the US is self-sufficient. I wish we could do that. We cling to everybody else’s thing. We ain’t arrive yet. People here don’t take art as serious.

They see it as just a past-time and that separates us from the first world countries. They see it as a way of living; art is a way of viewing the world, expressing what you see. They understand the importance of art. Art helps to build a society.” Among his paintings, which range from 5 cm x 5 cm to 9ft x 9ft, he has sold quite a few and has been able to make a living from them. “Don’t give up. What you have is a gift,” were the words of his wife years ago, when they were schoolmates. “She has always been there and for that I thank her.” In 2003, Shawn represented Trinidad and Tobago at Carifesta, working under the theme “Man’s ascent to becoming self-aware.” He became one of the youngest artists to do so. And so, he encourages his peers: “Young artists need to believe in themselves. I have had quite a few disappointments starting in school. I believe so much in myself that I am a bit cocky at times. Nobody can give me what I can’t get for myself.”