By ALESHA CADET
Tribune Features Reporter
acadet@tribunemedia.net
EVERY year, a new winner is born from the Central Bank Art Competition. The 29th instalment of the competition this year produced Bahamian artist Jace Mckinney, who walked away with the victorious title in the senior category.
Jace’s entry piece “Where Is He Going? Where Has He Been”, was voted as the best choice fitting this year’s theme, “Redefining the Landscape.”
The objectives of the competition, held earlier this month, was to identify, recognise and encourage Bahamian visual artists.
According to the curator, the theme directly referenced the 2009 competition theme “Redefining the Portrait”. Participants had the opportunity to embrace the theme from a number of angles, including use of material in the landscape and the role of landscape painting in Bahamian Art History. Landscape was also considered a metaphor for discussing the evolving political, cultural and economic landscapes.
Mr Mckinney told Tribune Entertainment he was an honoured to have won, this being his first year participating.
“I am also happy and humbled to be in the company of my fellow talented artists. Giving God all the honour and glory for lending me these extraordinary gifts. It feels great,” said Jace.
His entry piece explored the idea of the Caribbean man, his characteristics and role in society.
“As I analyse the character of the Caribbean man, comparing this character to my current generation of Caribbean males, I came to realize that the Caribbean man is a myth. I was inspired by this perspective of the mythological Caribbean man who’s character is so far removed from the character of the young men of our society. There are many symbolic gestures in the work that reference to his skills and characteristics. However, the tools are displayed in a way that is celebratory, removing them from their original meaning and use,” said Jace.
“Where Is He Going? Where Has He Been,” is a critique on how persons desperately want to preserve, celebrate and hold on to the past that is constantly being redefined through new eyes. As the world seemingly gets worse, there is a constant outcry for days gone by. It is this same outcry that brought forth the title of this piece, he said.
In regards to the theme of the competition, Mr Mckinney said he thinks it is fair to say that the landscape is the soul of the character that he explored.
He said the entry piece is made of paper, old tools, paint, plastic and mixed media work. Taking a page from a book written by the artist Picasso, Mr Mckinney said: “I would say that it took me 28 years to create that piece.” He said mentally constructing the idea of the work takes a very long time, sometimes years. It is a very important part of the creative process and should never be seen as anything less, he said.
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