The Seychelles has a surprisingly aware artistic community. Art here has two diverse antecedents: the realistic social commentary of the liberated s
lave, Billy King, and the primitivist depiction of tropical flora by British Marianne North.
Eden Art Space shows both in its exhibition of work by 15 artists inspired by “Vannswet”, the SE monsoon – a time of cooling dry winds.
There are scenes of the colourful tourist art which pays the bills, but more social commentary as well as striking seascapes and semi-abstracts.
George Camille impresses with stylised figures drowning in ‘tsunamis’ of personal and social problems; green leaves signify hope.
Egbert Marday’s paintings depict a Basquiat-type crowned skeleton, the king of heroin, reigning over helpless family members and government ministers. “Sa Divan Lapoud”, are inspired by Harold Macmillan’s 1960 “Winds of Change” speech, the Creole title translates as “These Winds of Powder”.
Kipao’s semi-abstract “Window on the South East” suggests use of the Golden Section in its construction.
The social commentary demonstrate that some artists here are addressing painful issues in original ways. Seychelles is holding its own.Price range: £300 – £8,000
Victoria Roach
Volume 33.no.1 September / October 2018 p 32
Vannswet (South East Monsoon/Trade Winds), Eden Art Space, Eden Island, Seychelles. 22 June to 27 July 2018
Unfortunately, this is a universal problem among artists, as they have to survive: “There are scenes of the colourful tourist art which pays the bills, but more social commentary as well as striking seascapes and semi-abstracts.” How different the art scene would be if artists were free to fully express their talents and not always have to worry about paying the bills.
LOVE those paintings you’ve shown in the article above! check out her others too – they’re by Angie Geehan – https://m.facebook.com/angiegeehanart/
The fact that the Art Lantern has a writer also in the Seychelles covering the art community there is quite a new turn for the magazine, getting away from its heavy focus that it previously had on Chicago. The art scene isn’t just about Chicago, nor the States for that matter.
This exhibition was particularly interesting as it was inspired by the monsoons, giving it a climate related impact. It would have been nice to have seen more images of the artworks.