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Robin Clare jamaica project |
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Jamaica Project explores the way in which modern Jamaica expresses
itself through its dancehall and party culture. The result is a combination of
purely text-based work alongside sexually suggestive graphics inspired by
imagery that surrounds the scene. The work shows a culture where women are
highly sexualised within a very male dominated dancehall and party scene. An
interesting commentary on the dichotomy of Jamaican women's place within a
society which often expects women to maintain roles as both breadwinner and sex
object. My chosen method to base
my painting style on is directly inspired by traditional Jamaican artisan
skills. Specifically focusing on hand painted signage used in advertising. As you travel around the
island you can see hand painted signage on walls, bus shelters and entire sides
of buildings with a variety of messages ranging from selected goods you can buy
at local supermarkets and hardware stores to advertising for local law firms
and go-go clubs. Yet with cheap costs 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 the culture is
shaping its messages and portraying itself to the world. With this homage to sign
painting which may one day become a thing of the past, I can recognising the
endeavour and skill that went into this past production and that which goes
into the present. Combining my technique
with messages surrounding Jamaica’s party scene continues the dialogue between
the fast paced world of the new and the often rose tinted version of the old.
Jamaica’s dancehall scene which has come under fire in recent years for it’s
inflammatory lyrics is an integral and often controversial part of Jamaican
culture offering escapism and entertainment to a population who experiences
hardship on a daily basis. |
Having grown up in Jamaica and lived abr The party scene in Jamaica
reflects a culture that recognises that humour is necessary to get through
life. Of key importance are the often-outrageous names and tag lines that are
used to draw an audience. Jamaican party names are in your face and
chauvinistic with titles like ‘Cleavage Refill’ and ‘Wet Dreams’ infused with
tongue and cheek phrases and schoolboy double entendre. 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. My paintings examine this party culture that 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 appear to allow themselves to be portrayed as sex objects within a very male dominated society. My work reflects this tempestuous balance of opposites which all plays out within the party scene and finally on the dancehall floor. |
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| Dance Hall Pick-up, Acrylic on Paper, 100cm x 70cm |
$800.00 |
Liquorish, Acrylic on Paper, 100cm x 70cm |
$650.00 |
Bashment, Acrylic on Paper, 100cm x 70cm |
$800.00 |
Milkyway, Acrylic on Paper, 100cm x 70cm |
$650.00 |
Tastee Cheese, Acrylic on Canvas, 100cm x 70cm |
$800.00 |
Heat Wave, Acrylic on Canvas, 100cm x 70cm |
$650.00 |
Bulls Eye, Acrylic on Paper, 100cm x 70cm |
$800.00 |
Sexy Party, Acrylic on Paper,100cm x 70cm |
$550.00 |
Cleavage Refill, Acrylic on Paper, 100cm x 70cm |
$800.00 |
Smudge, Acrylic on Paper, 100cm x 70cm |
$550.00 |
Ivanhoe Ragin Martin, Acrylic on Paper,100cm x 70cm |
$800.00 |
Kinky Party, Acrylic & Graphite on Paper, 100cm x 70cm |
$550.00 |
Dutty Fridaze, Acrylic on Paper,70cm x 50cm |
$400.00 |
Fish Tea, Acrylic on Paper,50cm x 40cm |
$400.00 |
Slackness, Acrylic on Paper, 50cm x 40cm |
$400.00 |
Wet Dreams,Ink & Acrylic on Paper, 50cm x 40cm |
$400.00 |
Beach, Acrylic on Paper, 70cm x 50cm |
$450.00 |
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| To purchase please contact |
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| © Robin Clare 2011 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||