The Famous Faces of Nassau
Artist Statement
Bahamians are intimidated by art. It’s way too bourgeois. Ican imagine the thought of attending an art show must frighten the average Joe.Who drinks wine with cheese any way? They must think us crazy when we callstaring at pictures on a wall an enjoyable activity.
How do you reach these people? Towards this end I have beenconsumed with the idea of communication, and I guess mass communication, andwhere art fits into all of this. I realize now that while I may get a greatdeal of satisfaction out of the process of creating an abstract piece, thatpiece may not be the best way to bridge the gap that currently exists betweenthe Bahamian art world and the general population.
Hence this show. What could be simpler than faces? The gamebecomes recognition. The blame shifts to the artist. If you can’t recognize theperson, that’s my fault, I just didn’t paint it right, or do the personjustice. In other words it’s not intimidating. And it becomes less about thepainting and starts to become more about the people and the personalities andthe ideas they represent. What do Bahamians love more?
The people we have selected represent the very fabric ofBahamian life. We see them every day. We know them. Some of them are thewallpaper and rug of our lives, while others are the fine china. Figurativelyspeaking of course. The audience then ends up with thirty symbols, and one puzzleinstead of thirty puzzles. The viewer is now comfortable and hopefully feelsempowered to put the pieces together.
So this could have very well been an exhibition ofphotographs and the point would still be made. So the question then becomes,why paint? Why didn’t I save myself some time and give Mr. Photo some money forblow-ups? I believe there is a difference between a painted portrait and aphotograph. The difference is prestige. A photograph is commonplace, while apainting is viewed as a luxury item and as something exotic. A painted portraitspeaks celebration and honor; a snap shot says nothing other than cheese.
So are we elevating all of our subjects as objects ofcelebration and honor? This is where it starts to get sticky. The answer is yesand no. There is no such thing as a perfect person. All of the people we havepainted are flawed. Painting their portrait merely puts them in a new light,and put them all on the same level. They hang on the wall as equals.
What we are celebrating, however, is their place in ourheads. For one reason or another, we don’t just know these people; we respondemotionally to them. These are not just faces; these people mean something tous.
Bahamians are intimidated by art. It’s way too bourgeois. Ican imagine the thought of attending an art show must frighten the average Joe.Who drinks wine with cheese any way? They must think us crazy when we callstaring at pictures on a wall an enjoyable activity.
How do you reach these people? Towards this end I have beenconsumed with the idea of communication, and I guess mass communication, andwhere art fits into all of this. I realize now that while I may get a greatdeal of satisfaction out of the process of creating an abstract piece, thatpiece may not be the best way to bridge the gap that currently exists betweenthe Bahamian art world and the general population.
Hence this show. What could be simpler than faces? The gamebecomes recognition. The blame shifts to the artist. If you can’t recognize theperson, that’s my fault, I just didn’t paint it right, or do the personjustice. In other words it’s not intimidating. And it becomes less about thepainting and starts to become more about the people and the personalities andthe ideas they represent. What do Bahamians love more?
The people we have selected represent the very fabric ofBahamian life. We see them every day. We know them. Some of them are thewallpaper and rug of our lives, while others are the fine china. Figurativelyspeaking of course. The audience then ends up with thirty symbols, and one puzzleinstead of thirty puzzles. The viewer is now comfortable and hopefully feelsempowered to put the pieces together.
So this could have very well been an exhibition ofphotographs and the point would still be made. So the question then becomes,why paint? Why didn’t I save myself some time and give Mr. Photo some money forblow-ups? I believe there is a difference between a painted portrait and aphotograph. The difference is prestige. A photograph is commonplace, while apainting is viewed as a luxury item and as something exotic. A painted portraitspeaks celebration and honor; a snap shot says nothing other than cheese.
So are we elevating all of our subjects as objects ofcelebration and honor? This is where it starts to get sticky. The answer is yesand no. There is no such thing as a perfect person. All of the people we havepainted are flawed. Painting their portrait merely puts them in a new light,and put them all on the same level. They hang on the wall as equals.
What we are celebrating, however, is their place in ourheads. For one reason or another, we don’t just know these people; we respondemotionally to them. These are not just faces; these people mean something tous.
And that is what this is all about. The people. The hot topic of the minuteis: what is Bahamian? What is authentic? I believe this is a question that isless about finding something as it is about accepting what was there all along.That is what this show is all about. First: it’s about seeing ourselves, andsecond: getting as many people as possible to get the point. And just whatpoint is that?
That we are all in this together.
-- Ward Minnis 2004
