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Robin Clare jamaica project |
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0451 826 139 |
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Jamaica
Project
is a
series of paintings exploring the traditional artisan skills employed in
Jamaican life and their relationship to the way modern Jamaica talks
about, represents and identifies itself. Specifically focusing on
methods of advertising, the paintings translate modern
messages into a traditional form, reflecting hand painted signage, which
still remains popular in many areas of Jamaica. The series centres
around Jamaica’s party scene, which is an integral and important part
of Jamaican culture offering escapism and entertainment to a population
who experiences hardship on a daily basis. Through
the use of humour and boundary testing sexual content Jamaica is in the
process of redefining its culture and its place in the modern global
landscape offering an enticing, if often sexist party culture that
welcomes visitors to the island. By
combining the party names and imagery with the cherished traditional
craftsmanship of Jamaican sign painting I am creating a dialogue between
the past and present. Translating the new messages back into the
language of the old highlights this commonality between the endeavour
and skill that went into past production and that which goes into the present. As part of a
long history, businesses in Jamaica still hire local artists to craft
and hand paint signs and intricate advertisements on walls and bus
shelters in towns and cities. Yet due to the cheap cost of production
modern digitally produced advertisements are fast becoming a dominant
form of written and visual communication in Jamaica, enabling a
transformation in the way Jamaican culture is shaping its messages and
portraying itself to the world. Having
grown up in Jamaica and lived abr |
I see how it has changed and how new more modern forms of media are
enabling a thriving party scene to express and advertise itself in ever
more creative ways. Jamaican
party names are in your face and chauvinistic with names like
‘Cleavage Refill’, ‘Wet Dreams’, ‘Milkyway – the cherry
surprise too’ which are infused with tongue and cheek phrases and
schoolboy double entendres. They are accompanied by images of scantly
clad women in various alluring poses, reminiscent of 70’s American
porn. These party advertisements are a common sight around town with
taxi drivers displaying text only versions in tinted back windows,
whilst blaring the latest dancehall tunes. While image
heavy posters and flyers float around town. The party culture seems at odds with Jamaica’s traditional conservative and religious moral outlook. The society prides itself on its family values and has a huge and very active array of different religions and churches on offer. It can also be said that Jamaican society is driven by its’ women. Women are more likely to continue through to secondary education and are often at times left to support large and extended families while the men come and go. Consequently women end up being the major breadwinners, yet they are portrayed and allow themselves to be portrayed as sex objects within a very male dominated society. This tempestuous balance of opposites all plays out within the party scene and finally on the dancehall floor. |
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Cleavage Refill, Acrylic on Paper, 100cm x 70cm |
Milkyway, Acrylic on Paper, 100cm x 70cm | Smudge, Acrylic on Paper, 100cm x 70cm | Kinky Party, Acrylic on Paper, 100cm x 70cm | Ivanhoe 'Ragin' Martin, Acrylic & Graphite on Paper, 100cm x 70cm | Sexy Foam Party, Acrylic on Canvas, 100cm x 70cm | Daggerin, Acrylic on Paper, 100cm x 70cm | Slackness, Acrylic on Paper, 50cm x 40cm | Dutty Wine, Ink & Acrylic on Paper, 50cm x 40cm | The Dragon, Ink & Acrylic on Paper, 60cm x 42cm | Wet Dreams, Ink & Acrylic on Paper, 50cm x 40cm | Pon di River, Pon di Bank, Ink & Acrylic on Paper, 50cm x 40cm | Kinky Party, Ink & Acrylic on Paper, 50cm x 40cm | Foul Fight, Ink & Acrylic on Paper, 50cm x 40cm | ||
| © Robin Clare 2010 |
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