The Tribune

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

IN THE imagination of Bahamian visual artist Christine Knowles the black widow seems harmless. She is beautiful, sexy, nude, and has an allure that makes it hard for even the strongest to resist. But her grip is that of a snake’s squeeze. After her bait is released, she reels in the catch and it is not long before the prey is devoured and destroyed.

In one of her latest designs, featured in her first solo show “City Vistas”, Ms Knowles explores who and what is a black widow.

She is powerful. She is a slave master with a long whip. She exhibits no pity to the cry of those enslaved to her. She is the symbol of corporate institutions.

When City Vistas opened last week, the black widow painting was the source of a heated discussion. According to Ms Knowles, the painting not only represents the way some women use there bodies to get power, but it also demonstrates the way corporate entities use the same tool - lust - as a way to market consumer products.

“Banking institutions operate the same way as the black widow. They lure people in through advertisements on the radio and in the newspaper on print. The give you something to lust after. Then sooner or later you find yourself in that trap because they make debt sound so good,” said Ms Knowles. Years later, you are still paying for something that has probably lost all value, been misplaced or fully consumed.

She said uncontrolled consumerism is but slavery in disguise.

Through her work, Ms Knowles said she merely wanted to present an idea accompanied by an intriguing painting. She sought to encourage people to make better choices where their finances are concerned. She wanted to get people to think twice about making decisions based on wants instead of needs.

“I know someone who is left with just about two dollars after the bank is done taking their money and I know there are so many Bahamians who are the same way and almost left with no money because they have to pay the bank. That is a sad situation to be in because it is like you are only working and living to pay the bank,” she said.

Anthony Gibson, who attended the City Vistas show told Tribune Arts he had a different interpretation of the black widow, but agreed that there is much more to the painting than meets the eye.

To him the black widow represents anything that seeks to capture by means of lust and allure. He said it could be a financial institution, it could be a woman, it could even be a coworker lusting power and doing away with anyone who gets in their way.”

“You can get lost looking at the painting and trying to consider its meaning. You can go by your physical senses and just see it as a naked woman, or you can use your inner sense and see it for what it really is. I think the painting should be called

“Oh Boy” because that is the first thing that comes out. It is a very interesting and captivating piece,” he said.

Although the black widow captured the most attention, there were other prominent pieces featured in the show that gave commentary on current affairs issues such as gambling and the judicial system.

The painting “Under Siege” depicts a house demolished by a fruit.

“The fruit is the young people and the house is society. The young people are products of their homes and their environments and because they are not raised the right way they are in turn destroying our society in some way. We all have a past to play in teaching young people,” she said.

Pieces featured on the City Vistas art show are on display at Buy The Book located at Plaza On The Way.