‘THE BASSMAN’ IN CHINA

Hetty de Gannes has truly immortalised “The Bassman” in Changchun China.

This multi-talented woman has recently returned from the China Changchun Sculpture Conference and Symposium in August 2003, in Changchun, a garden-like city located in the middle of the northeast part of China. De Gannes spent nearly two months in “Spring City,” first attending the International Sculpture Symposium which opened at Shengli Park on August 2, followed by the workshop production of her work “BassMan” which is now displayed permanently in the Changchun World Sculpture Park for all to enjoy. The vision for this park, said to be the largest of its kind in the world, was ten years in the planning stage.  Parks are very important to the Chinese as they live in skyrise buildings and there are not many open areas. Government by law permits the general population morning time for exercise in the parks. 

Changchun, with a population of nine million,  is the capital of the Jilin Province, which covers in area 187,400 square kilometres and has a population of more than 26 million. From 1997, the powers-that-be planned the Conference/Symposium, during which time, sculptors from all over the world were invited by the Organising Committee to produce their works which have now been placed in the World Sculpture Park. “Fifty-two Sculptors from as far as New Zealand, South and North America and other places were brought back by the Chinese to see their work which had been placed in other parks, finally installed in the Sculpture Park when it opened at the end of the Conference” explained de Gannes, whose invitation to participate came through the Trinidad and Tobago Government.  The late information from the authorities prevented her from submitting a “maquette.” This is normally a small sculpture to show how the final piece of work will look. Unfazed, de Gannes submitted drawings which stood up to the maquette competition and she was on her way to China with help also from the Chinese Embassy in this country. 

De Gannes, an optometrist by profession, and artist, sculptor, designer and musician, chose the bassman having been a member of a steelband in years gone by. “The theme of the Conference/Symposium was ‘Friendship, Peace and Spring’  and the sculpture was produced in an atmosphere which truly depicted the theme in an open workshop at Shengli Park, with people viewing the work at different stages.” Out of a total of 1339 proposals submitted by 364 sculptors from some 79 countries, Hetty’s work was reviewed and chosen by the Experts Group of the China National Guiding Committee for Urban Sculpture Construction and the Organising Committee of the International Sculpture Conference.  The work of art depicting a four-pan bass player in a steel orchestra, with his stance reflective of the rhythmical sway which the music demands, made with bronze and stainless steel alloy, now stands permanently in the Changchun World Sculpture Park.  

The sculptor was impressed by the Organising Committee’s statement: “At last we got over the emotions of being afraid of difficulty.” She was very pleased with the good artisans who helped with the work in Changchun, and that our government sent her son, Wilfred, along to ensure that she had help.  Hetty speaks with great love of her late husband of 35 years, Anthony, who was responsible for building the first foundry in the region, at their home, so that she could do “lost wax work. We created history. All the equipment was built right here in Trinidad except the crucible.” And for the first time in the Caribbean’s history, the cycle is complete, shaped into reality by a twelve year vision of the de Gannes family. The art works in bronze, created by sculptor Hetty Juanita de Gannes and cast by her family, which includes sons Wilfred, William and Antonio, are the Caribbean’s initial offering to this tradition. However, Hetty is clear “art and sculpture cannot really provide full time occupation.  Sculpture, especially bronzes, last forever, whereas paintings will mash up.  The work is expensive, hard to do, and is a lonely occupation.” Hetty was very impressed by the Chinese way of life. “We have things to learn from China, starting with environmental consciousness, such as cleanliness in the streets and the highways. 

Greenery is important and every child is supposed to have planted at least two trees in their lifetime from primary school age.” “Aesthetics, which include landscaping, flowers and trees play an important part in the towns.  You see vendors on the street but in organised fashion under sponsored umbrellas and looking neat. “They are disciplined. There were far more people in the available space and far more cars and traffic yet never did we see an accident, because of discipline, they weave in and out without accidents. They just do not drive aggressively. Their great organisational and managerial skills showed particularly with the meticulous planning for the Symposium/Conference. “Every detail was thought out as was evidenced at the opening of the conference, where we were given white caps for sitting in the sun and bottles of water. The Chinese were excellent hosts and hostesses,  had great humility and grace, and tried to make everybody happy. Most of all, great respect was paid to us as artists, from both the young and the old.” Hetty de Gannes was earlier this year invited to participate in the Jamaica Ceramic and Bronze Exhibition, has hosted solo, joint and mixed exhibitions in Trinidad and Tobago and countries around the world, some of which include Canada Expo ’67; Sao Paolo Biennials, Brazil; Commonwealth Exhibition U.K.; Organisation of American States, Washington; India International Women’s Exhibition and Carifesta, Caribbean.