Published in The Sunday Gleaner, December 23, 2012
Her art is as unique, graceful and petite
as she is. And it speaks. Yes, it speaks. Jasmine Thomas-Girvan's
pieces, which use a unique combination of materials such as bronze,
wood, brass, aluminium, pearl, silver, and even silk, are truly works of
art which carry messages taken from a variety of Caribbean situations.
Her
most recent exhibit, Resonance, featured at the Hi-Qo Art & Framing
Gallery on Waterloo Road, does just that. With a keen focus on faces
and hands, which she describes as "the most expressive parts of the
human body", this master artist cunningly intertwines language and human
form to create symbolic and illustrative pieces that carry weight in
literal presence as well as figurative meaning.
Pieces such as
'What We Have Done And What We Have Left Undone' - a specimen featuring a
wooden man with tongue extended, on which is inscribed 'I do not
recall' - serve as cutting-edge social commentary that also elicit
humour. The man holds a machete in his hand and is about to cut out his
own tongue. In his pocket is a measuring stick, on which is inscribed,
'Truth and lie nebba drown'. Interestingly, but not surprisingly, this
was the first piece from the Resonance collection to be sold.
Art
lovers will also appreciate Thomas-Girvan's precision and attention to
detail. The time and thought invested in each piece is obvious from the
miniscule inscriptions on pieces such as 'The Message', which itself
carries a compelling message about where truth and light can be found
('Open your eyes and look within'); or 'The Upper Room'; or 'Mariposa
Negra', a bronze and wood offering which features a woman with hands
folded, completely covered in butterflies.
A somewhat sad, yet
powerful, section of the exhibit is 'Give Us Vision'. Here,
Thomas-Girvan bestows medals of honour upon three of her heroes -
Jamaica's John Maxwell, Trinidad and Tobago's Angela Cropper, and Cuba's
Operation Milagro, with a notation stating, 'For valour beyond the
call'.
Outstanding exemplars
Explaining
the importance and necessity of this gesture, Thomas-Girvan speaks
passionately about John Maxwell's phenomenal contribution to Jamaican
journalism, and says she thinks it is appropriate to recognise this in
Jamaica's 50th year of Independence.
She speaks of Angela
Cropper's "dedication to causes that protect the environment", and
describes the quiet strength of a woman who endured many hardships but
refused to be broken. (Cropper died on November 12 of this year).
Then,
she explains the awe-inspiring beauty of Operation Milagro, a medical
programme initiated by Cuba and Venezuela which restores sight to
persons suffering from visual disabilities. She expresses admiration for
the Cuban people who "have a vision about social responsibility like no
other group".
It is obvious that Thomas-Girvan, who was born in
Jamaica, is a holistically Caribbean artist. Jamaica features
prominently in her pieces - from the Anansi jewellery series to the
frequent use of the calabash in her artistry. "It is very important to
reinforce our Caribbean and Jamaican identity," she says, explaining
that the Anansi series celebrates the "beauty and intelligence" of one
of Jamaica's most wily folklore heroes.
But she does not leave her
new home, Trinidad, behind. Her frequent use of birds, she explains, is
mainly due to the fact that these creatures are now a big part of her
daily life. She also loves the imagery of birds: "Soaring to realms that
humans only dream about, birds symbolise flight, defying gravity, and
are incredibly beautiful." So into her art they go.
As Maria
Casserly explains, Thomas-Girvan's work is influenced by the moments the
artist encounters everyday. And since this is the case, we can only
wonder where next these moments will lead her, or what her next body of
artwork will be. One thing is for sure, with art lovers everywhere, this
jeweller-cum-sculptor's work will resonate.
