Foreword by Hetty de Gannes

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 yesteryears, 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.

In the centre of Port of Spain, the capital, we can see some everlasting monumental works in bronze, for example, the War Memorial in the Memorial Park located at the top of Frederick Street and at the far end of Frederick Street in the hub and bustle of the city, is the statue of Captain Arthur Cipriani, former Labour Leader. Both bronze artworks were executed abroad and brought back to the island by the then Colonial Government. Also, in front of the President's house is a more recent contemporary abstract, which sits in a non-flowing water fountain near the Queen's Park Savannah.

Amongst the recognised and established artist who did sculptural works are M.P. Alladin, Sybil Atteck, Ken Morris, Joan St. Louis (now all deceased).

M.P. Alladin's bas-relief of 'Workers' can still be seen outside the building on Duncan Street, Port of Spain, which once housed the Worker's Bank.

Sybil Atteck's mural in the Trinidad Hilton Hotel and her work at the Church of the Assumption in Maraval were in bas-relief concrete and paint.

Ken Morris is a noted craftsman in carnival and copper sculpture. His works are unique in that the copper was beaten on the reverse side, (repousee as it is called), the resulting design produced and viewed in-front being in 'bas-relief'. His works can be seen in St. Paul's Anglican Church in San Fernando and also at the Trinidad Hilton, Port of Spain.

Joan St. Louis worked in wood. Her contemporary sculpture represented new organic forms.

Carlise Chang, another well-known painter, executed the sculptural work 'Conquerabia' at the entrance City Hall, Port of Spain and another at the top of the outer wall of the former Cable & Wireless building (now T.S.T.T.) on Independence Square.

Willi Chen, another very prolific abstract painter, designed and constructed the mural which can be seen in the Central Bank foyer in the Twin Towers, Port of Spain, fabricated with copper, steel and iron.

Patrick Chu Foon, a painter and former cultural officer in the Ministry of Education and Culture has produced several sculptural works mostly in cement fondu. Among them are 'Mother and Child' commissioned in 1980 for the Mt. Hope Maternity Hospital, and 'Calypsonian Lord Kitchener', near the Roxy Roundabout. Port of Spain.

Dr. Ralph Baney, a sculptor who has become very well-known, is resident abroad and is one of Trinidad's leading full-time sculptors who teaches at the Dundalk Community College in Baltimore. His work, chiefly in wood, often suggest abstract forms.

Francisco Cabral, famous both here and abroad for his sculptural chairs, adds another dimension to this art form. In the 'La Ultima Sena' (The Last Supper) comprising fourteen Cabralian chairs, the artist uses twisted iron, metal and discarded parts of electronic equipment to impress upon us the feast that is for the Perpetuaion of Destruction and Evil as the world powers sit, devouring the spoils gained from less powerful nations. This work 'La Ultima Sena', is not remembrance of the Christ, but in adoration of the Japanese Yen; not in confirmation of being members of one body, but rivals. Another work 'Casa De Dios' depicts Atma, the Sanskrit concept of the soul at its highest level of consciousness - where hundreds of dazzling crystals forming the major part of the sculpture, represents the 'New' world extending a message of renewal and hope to seemingly decadent old world.

These are other sculptors of note:
Leo Warner, a Bishop of the Baptist faith ho was a professional carpenter and has produced beautiful wooden sculptures, and he also paints in acrylic.

Samuel Waldron, is from the deep south, Pt. Fortin. He uses a considerable amount of concrete to make his sculptures of famous personalities. He is seventy-nine years of age and still works assiduously.

Cynthia Mac Lean, also from the southland, has created several magnificent sculptures in 'repousee' copper. More recently, Carlise Harris also found this medium to express his creativity.

Raphael Samuel, one of the pioneers in the Steelband movement, was associated with Casablanca Steelband. His involvement was such, that he also became involved in the production of 'Primitive' expression of the Steelband players. It appears that he was so enthused that he is considered to be the first artist who produced a very large number of figurines, depicting not only an entire band but the development of this musical art form. His medium was cement, wire and paint.

Robert Mackie, has been able to create his sculptural works using nuts, bolts, steel-rods etc., which are welded together and painted.

Valerie Braithwaite, a noted ceramic sculptor, although Trinidadian born, resides and works in neighbouring Venezuela.

Carnival, which we partake of every year, may be considered truly our art form. It encompasses all aspects of creativity, including the wire-bending, moulding, carving, beaten copper or other metal, blow moulding and vacuum forming, paper mâché, painting, creating and constructing floats, etc. Even the depicting of J'Ouvert to the presentation of 'The Mas', as done by world-renowned artist Peter Minshall can be considered 'performance sculpture'. Several sculptural artist both trained and self-taught come out of the Carnival, including Peter Minshall as already mentioned, Wayne Berkeley and several other experienced Carnival Band leaders and designers.

Undoubtedly, throughout the vast and colourful tapestry of human creativity, significant factors exist - social, economic, political and others, which tend to influence the production of the visual arts at all levels of society.

However, regardless of the mode of expression, certain aesthetic principles of design must of necessity be adhered to in order to clarify and enhance the artist's ability to give tangible forms to his expressions. Sculpture, therefore, in concept and execution will present a three-dimensional, free-standing form regardless of the medium of expression or techniques employed. On the other hand, pictorial art is entirely visual and two-dimensional, even with the many and varied techniques and media used to present aesthetic sensibilities. Perhaps, one might conjecture that the artist finds greater comfort in the production of pictorial art. Generally, this approach to creativity tends to predominate even on the International level. Here in Trinidad and Tobago, one finds fewer sculptors than painters and designers. This may not be through the lack of indigenous materials, but rather from apathy and public acceptance. Nevertheless, our younger artists appear to indulge more freely in exploring materials and media, conventional and otherwise. Such spirit of adventure on the artistic level may lead to a greater awareness of the intrinsic qualities and personal satisfaction to be achieved in the production of three-dimensional expression.

Hetty de Gannes, now works in hot-cast Bronze using the 'Cire perdue' or 'lost wax' process.
Her sculpture in this medium encompasses all from within and is made possible by her family
who cast all the works in their foundry, which is located in Trinidad. She aspires to immortalise
in bronze some of the past, present and future of this beautiful Caribbean Island.

Currently she is in the process of completing two major commissions - one a real challenge,
is sixteen feet high.