VIBRANCY and life are on full display at The Secret Garden art exhibition, currently on display at the Coco Reef Resort and Spa in Crown Point, Tobago.
Viewers can feast their eyes on a variety of styles of paintings and sculptures, from professional local artists and up-and-comers alike. Human figures, birds, insects, scenery and more are displayed in vivid colours, sepia, pastels and black and white.
In The Secret Garden, the artists tell their stories through encaustic painting, quilling, sculpture, oils, watercolours, pastels and mixed media in categories including fantasy, abstract and realism, covering various aspects of life including cricket, Indian dance and fishing.
Artist Peter Sheppard’s monocromatic piece was inspired by Tobago, with people liming on the side of the road and a small village seen through a bamboo grove.
[caption id="attachment_1125365" align="alignnone" width="827"] A painting of a bird at The Secret Garden exhibition. -[/caption]
The exhibition’s curator Martin Superville had several black-and-white pieces with steelpan players and dancers that, from a distance, could be taken for photographs. And the paintings by Justyna Burkowska looked childlike with bright colours and a simple style, but the skill involved could be seen in the use of paint, blending of colours and attention to certain details.
Other artists who contributed to The Secret Garden were Jackie Hinkson, Jason Nedd, Sundiata, Amber Shaw, Alicia Achong, Joy Luk Pat, Jade Hilaire, Shonari Richardson, Chris Thomas, Denee Thomas, Gail Pantin, Samantha Joseph, Beverly Thomas, Zindzi Eiffel, Lisa Hutchinson, Dunieski Lora, Ameeta Jackree, Micheal Phillips and Dean Superville.
Superville told Newsday when he was looking for artists to participate, he looked for the best artists and only accepted some of their best work. And even as he wanted to encourage younger artists, including his son Dean, he said it was important to maintain the quality of the show, so no one got a “bligh.”
He said as the works sold they would be replaced by others, as just under 100 pieces were submitted and there was not enough space for them all.
[caption id="attachment_1125364" align="alignnone" width="815"] One of the paintings on sale at The Secret Garden exhibition at Coco Reef Resort and Spa, Crown Point, Tobago. -[/caption]
He said creatives had no other choice than to create as they were designed by God to do so. And whenever they get resources, their focus was usually on getting more materials to continue to create.
As a result, he said Tobago artists needed a market for their work and The Secret Garden was his idea to create a platform where people, especially tourists, were.
“Being in the art world as an artist and art dealer for almost 30 years in Tobago, governments come and governments go, and you realise if you don’t make an effort to make it happen, it won’t.
“You have to look for venues to showcase the work and it’s nice to know Mr (Adrian) Grant (general manager of Coco Reef) is quite willing to be on board.”
