The Twin Island Gem of the Caribbean – Trinidad & Tobago
By Artist/Sculptor Hetty de Gannes
July 1st 2008
As the great Sculptor Henry Moore said – “I think it is not the material which sculpture is made from, or even how it is made which counts, but the vision or quality of mind and the idea that’s expressed through it.”
He also continued to express the following “The whole value of all the arts is to develop our experiences of life through our senses, a sculpture, for example, can make us realize what wonderful forms and shapes there are in the world and what can be invented by human beings.”
Quote from Henry Moore
“To get the most out of sculpture (or any art) you must begin with an open mind and be prepared to look again and again at a work before deciding whether or not you like it. You should look at it from many angles, you should concentrate for a while on some of the details, and above all you must take time, and not hope to understand the true significance of a sculpture in a few seconds of casual looking.”
What better way to appreciate sculpture from in a universal sense than in the Changchun International Sculpture Park which occupies 90 hectares and is the largest of its kind. Here one is able to understand the great soul of sculptural art in the world and be stimulated in one’s creative thinking. Three dimensional form is a means of expressing what people feel about themselves, nature and the world around them.
“No other city than Changchun places so much emphasis on sculpture” as described by Jeff Nathanson.
After six sessions of sculpture Symposia, the cultural image of Changchun has certainly evolved. The city now has more artistic character, along with already achieved and earned designation ‘Automobile City’ – ‘Movie City; – ‘Science and Technology City’, and ‘Forest City’. ‘Sculpture City’ will soon be added to the nomenclature.
Trinidad and Tobago is the most southerly of the islands in the Caribbean chain, situated north of the South American Continent, a mere 15-20 miles from the coastline of Venezuela. English is the first language with Spanish as the first foreign language. It is one of the most prosperous, highly diversified and industrialized countries in the Caribbean, as its economy is primarily energy based. There are large exports of oil, gas and downstream energy products.
With an ethnically diverse population of 1.3 million, Trinidad and Tobago has a wide range of competitive advantages, such as strategic geographic location, a highly educated, diverse workforce and a highly developed industrial sector. The Government is aggressively pursuing economic diversification in non-energy manufacturing and services. Because of our diverse ethnic background, our culture is as varied as our people. We can boast of the invention of the only musical instrument of the 20th century – the Steel Pan. My sculpture ‘Bassman’ attests to this.
“BASSMAN” - Changchun International Sculpture Park (2003)
The capital city of Port of Spain situated in the North of the island of Trinidad is now undergoing a great development in keeping with the Government 20/20 vision of attaining ‘Developed Status’ by the year 2020. There is much construction of the waterfront area, with modern architecture, 5 star hotels and Government offices – this part of the city’s landscape has certainly changed. Also, in the pipeline is a performing arts centre. Already completed in 9 months is the auspicious Prime Minister’s residence and Diplomatic Centre. At the inaugural function in the Diplomatic Centre on August 31st 2007, I was duly honoured and the recipient of a National Award for Culture – ‘The Hummingbird Medal Bronze.
It is fitting to mention here that this urban development of Port of Spain, is substantially facilitated by construction firms from China in Trinidad and Tobago ‘East meets West’. Photographs of some of these are included.
Most of the sculptors in Trinidad and Tobago are essentially painters and very few are gainfully employed in their respective art form. Reluctantly, one may therefore assume that our national community has not yet fully appreciated the visions and concepts of our creative artists. When we consider the knowledge and understanding gained from the prehistoric era, to modern times through sculpture and paintings executed by artist of yesteryear, hopefully, one may anticipate that the continuance of artistic endeavours will generate further interest and development by practitioners of the twenty first century and beyond.
The progress of sculpture has been very slow in Trinidad and Tobago and far less prolific than that of painting from the post-war period to the present. This may be due to the following reasons: working in the three-dimensional form is more laborious, time consuming, more expensive basically done in solitude and woefully lacking in sponsorship.
The Creative Arts Centre within the Faculty of Humanities and Education of the University of the West Indies, whose Visual Arts programme include painting, drawing, textiles, graphic design, sculpture design, ceramics, video and film offers from certification to degree and honour modules.
Performing Arts Academy – Port of Spain
T&T Prime Minister Residence and Diplomatic Centre
It is hoped in the not too distant future that the visual arts would move apace with the fast forwarding development of the cities, with public art, more so sculpture.
Having been selected in 2003 to represent Trinidad and Tobago in the Changchun Symposium, what an overwhelming experience it was. Firstly my maternal grandparents were migrants from South East China to Guyana and then to Trinidad and Tobago, where they settled in central Trinidad and were business entrepreneurs. It was always a dream to visit China, so this was a realization of a long yearning.
Having represented our country on several occasions at Sculpture Conferences, mainly in North America, both the Symposium and the Sculpture Conference in Changchun far surpassed any previous ones.
The International Waterfront Centre, includes the Hyatt Regency Hotel – Port of Spain
Artist Rendition showing the International Waterfront Centre at night
Artist rendering of ‘The Government Campus’ – Port of Spain
The National Carnival and Entertainment Centre (NCEC) – Port of Spain
The Government Campus Development – Port of Spain
Chancery Lane Development – City of San Fernando
Nicholas Tower – Port of Spain
The hospitality, respect, superb organization and the desire to make all Sculptors ‘happy’ in all aspects of their stay in Changchun was overwhelming. The meeting and interfacing with Artists from around the world including the Chinese Artists at the Symposium and 1sConference remains an unforgettable, stimulating and rewarding experience. The skilled Artisans and Interpreters were always so polite and hardworking.
San Fernando National Academy for the Performing Arts – San Fernando
The opening of the Sculpture Park was so well organized, with such beauty, pomp and dignity that one felt humble and honoured to be part of that function. The beautiful flowers, lakes, fountains with flowing water interspersed amongst the global / international sculptural works certainly enriched one's creativity of the mind and soul. The appreciation of the Sculptures by all ages, both the young and the not so young was most memorable. A media person from the Youth Arm of the Chinese Newspaper took over 100 photographs of my work and was the
first to send via the internet, a photo with the beautiful large red ribbon which adorned the piece on the opening day. The journalist journeyed several miles to deliver a hard copy before I left Changchun. He simply “loved” my piece.
The entertainment provided by taking us all to the theater, restaurants, parks, boat ride on a river were all very relaxing and refreshing. The banquet held in our honour with excellent cuisine along with dinner music provided by an all women ensemble will never be forgotten.
The inaugural conference was most educational and so well presented. Your park contains sculptural art, from hundreds of countries combining eastern and western, ancient and contemporary, assorted styles and different schools of art. Lovers of sculpture are now able to study this beautiful universal collection of sculptural art whereby stimulating and enriching their creative thinking.
My profound thanks to the Changchun Organizing Committee for affording me the honor to participate in both the Symposium and the Conference.
Surely your city has set the precedent for others to simulate, as Sculpture is both Environmental and Creative.
Hetty de Gannes – H.B.M