Designer Island Life.com

Tropical Modernism- The Colin Laird Exhibit at the National Museum, Trinidad

“Public Spaces: The Architecture of Colin Laird” opened at the National Museum in Port of Spain, Trinidad on June 28, 2012. The exhibition puts a spotlight on Colin Laird who is recognized for using architectural strategies in the climate of a post-independent Trinidad and Tobago to create urban designs that encouraged participation and inclusion. Laird worked at the front line of a movement that sought to redress colonial architectural styles that asserted superiority and separation. Colin Laird’s designs include the National Library, National Stadium, the Brian Lara Promenade and Queen’s Hall. The exhibition coincides with celebrations of Trinidad and Tobago’s 50th anniversary of Independence. “It is the first exhibition of architecture in the nation,” said Christopher Laird, son of Colin Laird. - Marsha Pearce (Cultural Scholar and Filmmaker)

I went to see this exhibit the day after it's opening with coworkers and I was really amazed to see all the work , sketches and intricate models of so many of Trinidad and Tobago's most prominent buildings.

Definitely a must see!

Colin Laird speaks with co-rd Limited's Sean Leonard about the Boissiere House. See the video here. <<< I Love This 'Ginger Bread House!'

Photos of the event by Marsha Pearce here.

Article on the exhibit in the Trinidad Guardian Newspaper here.
More about Public Spaces here on 'Repeating Islands'

Also, learn more about Marsha Pearce here.

The Caribbean or Island Aesthetic with Ayanna Gillian Lloyd

Ayanna Gillian Lloyd is a  Writer and Blogger. 

She is currently a Literatures in English Teacher at the prestigious Bishop Anstey High School in Port of Spain Trinidad and pursuing a masters at Arthur Lock Jack Graduate School of Business studying Innovation and Entrepreneurship. 

Ayanna currently writes one of my favourite blogs about Literature and Culture and is very interested in the creative industries. 

She's a beautiful smart woman and I totally admire her (and wish I had her brain!)

I've also quoted her in one of my earlier post; 'So Island, Anya Ayoung-Chee. A Sense of Pride."

Because of Ayanna absolute smarts and genuine interest in the Arts and in how to make creative industries here better I had to ask her the question, 'What does the term Caribbean Aesthetic mean to you?' 

Please check out the video and leave your thoughts by commenting! :)

'I think it's something that moves along a spectrum of influences and you can't really define it. It depends on your where you sit, where you're from, where you start, where you reach, where you going.' -Ayanna Gillian Lloyd

The recording and editing of this video post was done by Photographer; Kibwe Brathwaite

So Island! - Anya Ayoung Chee. A Sense of PRIDE.

Anya Ayoung-Chee photo to the right taken by Laura Ferreira

I had such an intense sense of pride when Anya Ayoung Chee was pronounced the winner of Project Runway Season 9 last week!

Trini to D Bone Island to D Bone!

She chose to stick to who she was and where she came from and it made me feel all kinds of excited when her models came down the runway and when Heidi announced that she had won!

In the last few years of my 20's, as I approach my 30's with a sense of love and pride for who I am and where I am from so this couldn't have been more perfect in timing to see.

I've been told so many times that being from the Caribbean meant that I couldn't be more than just that- 'island' and that nothing was good unless it was 'foreign' and if I did a design that was 'good' I was instantly told it was so 'cause it look foreign' because 'local' is a dirty dirty word... possible sandy...

But I am from here, of here, proud, curious and full of aspiration not bound by the salt water and the coconut trees.

I am inspired and interested by many things local and international

I don't think with the boundaries of the so-called 'Caribbean Aesthetic' in my mind but I am happily aware of and in love with them and how it inspires me.

Anya 'Did her' and no one else. She did it with absolute pride and integrity and I admire that fully.

"Who knew we could look so good? Who knew that our style, our freedom, the sexiness of just being so island could look so good on a world stage? Who knew that one of our own could just look so chic and sophisticated and confident? We always say that we are excellent and can compete on the world stage but I wonder sometimes whether we really believe it, whether we really believed she would win. We are accustomed to honourable mention, to second place, to the bronze medal and we celebrate that because we know when you are from a small place you are just glad to be there, to represent, to wave your flag and say, “Look we! We here too!” But this time, we won!"- Ayanna Gillian Lloyd- 'Anya Ayoung-Chee From The Caribbean To The World'

Island Identity...On Caribbean or Island Aesthetic with Katinka Bukh

Katinka Bukh is the Director for katbukh design ltd.

She was formerly a Creative Director for Abovegroup, Trinidad.
Business Relations and Strategy Care part of position.
Abovegroup is now partnered up with Ogilvy and now called AbovegroupOgilvy.

Does the term 'Caribbean' or 'Island Aesthetic' mean anything to you 

and if so what?

As a Danish Creative Director having worked in Trinidad for a year

I found that ..

Its a small world containing a lot of worlds.

I had almost no knowledge about the Caribbean. But somehow I felt that since I'm from a small place myself - an island in fact :) - it was not to different, from a human perspective.

From a design perspective it was very different. Mostly because the confusion about what a local expression should look like. And what good design is.

Essentially there are two things I feel drive the creative process towards finding that answer in the region - its curiosity and diversity.

You can't create good design without being curious. Almost nosy in fact. You have to know everything about anything- everywhere. That makes a good designer. Cause inspirations comes from all places.

There is a sense, I feel, that there is .. a shame in looking towards other countries in the quest of finding a visual Caribbean identity. I don't agree. We all have to look in and outwards to find great answers to great questions. And we all leave our mark.

So everything coming out of the Caribbean is already Caribbean, being it good or bad.

And it leads me to the energy which springs out of the diversity that exist here. There is such a strong presence in a island cause it is by nature isolated. So here we are - close together with a distant dream of other places beyond the horizon. We are all coming from somewhere else, even it's generations ago. Its a strong history to share. I think being a young nation matters a lot. But it matters in a good way. There is no set way of doing things. There is a lot of pioneering.

New ways to be discovered. And a will to do it.

As a European having worked in three countries I dont know anymore if I'm a 'danish designer'. Where does inspiration come from? I know what my cultures aesthetic past is - for better and for worse, but does that make me that? For me its not so important anymore, because I feel as a part of the globalisation having worked in 3 countries with people from all over the world.

But when I'm in Denmark I can see it is important because its the visual clothes we wear. How we make things look tells a story about who we are. To each other and the rest of the world.

I cant wait to see more art, fashion, design, branding etc coming out of the cracks and corners of the Caribbean.

And I feel happy and privileged being a small part of that world.

Katinka Bukh

Island Identity... Does the term Caribbean or Island Aesthetic mean anything to you?

I'm starting a mini series asking questions about 'Caribbean or Island Aesthetic.'

So between colour palettes, design work and beautiful pictures, expect to get some discussion about this from some of the designers, writers, artists, creative directors, directors and other friends of mine.

Some of these interview answers will be presented in written post and later a few will be video recorded. I hope you find the answers to these as interesting as I do and you share your views!

Island Identity 1.

Richard Mark Rawlins is a Graphic Designer/Photographer/Artist/Creative Director, working in advertising in Trinidad for the last twenty years. Rawlins is the publisher of the online magazine Draconian Switch (www.artzpub.com) . Draconian Switch is currently in the GLOBAL AFRICA PROJECT at the Museum of Arts and Design.

Richard Mark Rawlins
photo by Rodell Warner

Does the term Caribbean or Island Aesthetic mean anything to you and if so what?

I think it's a matter of perception, exposure and age.

Island Aesthetic

Age:

At 44 I am a post independence child. That means that I was part of a new movement heading towards a nationhood building.

The smallness and expectation of "ISLAND" culture never entered into my psyche at all. Black power was another nation shaping thing in a sense that set to put the "islandness" of things in another place once and for all.

I had aunts and uncles in UWI involved in the movement, that was about 'black pride'. That shaped me.

Pride in self and seeing yourself as beautiful was foremost.

Exposure:

A decade of living in a north america opened my mind to a bigger world of possibilities, but not a wanting for replacement of what I had. If anything it left me with an even bigger sense of pride and place and appreciation for what I had an where I came from.

All my national pride moments came from a place of "countryman " pride vs island pride.

While I understand the clichéd...a small island nation that went before a Ms. Universe, or a Miss Worldor a Hasely Crawford or an Ato Boldon or Dwight Yorke or Brian Lara, the bigger understanding was always nationhood and people power.

Perception:

I don't work in an environment or rather I am not around many "foriegners" or expats. 

My country is seen through my eyes as just that "my country". I really don't ascribe an aesthethic to it other than a love of "BREEZE" blocks. In recent times I've heard the "island" culture discussion coming from my own people, and I guess I would have to link it to their relationships to the large amount of Europeans that are now working  alongside them.

I think the fraternization has created a psuedo-aesthetic actually. One in which the local re-inteprates their landscape through foriegn eyes. So much so that they themselves see their country as an island and adopt terms like the 'locals' , when they themselves are the locals.

Final analysis:

The discussion should really be around Banana Republicanism and the Carnivalesque adsurdity of our Political systems rather than about our Caribbean or Island Aesthetic.

Draconian Switch is an Art and Design e-magazine published in Trinidad and Tobago by Richard Rawlins with the collaboration of a group of artists, designers, and writers. The Magazine’s primary goal is to feature the work of CONTEMPORARY artist currently working in Trinidad and Tobago or with GLOBAL Caribbean connections.

An Island Identity

My name is Tanya Marie Williams and I have always been obsessed with design, advertising, books, products, style and beautiful things.

I'm a graphic designer on an island, working for a brand engineering firm, creating and developing brands. I work with and know some amazingly gifted and intellectual artists, designers, architects, strategists, photographers, writers and fantastic inspiring people!

Some of these great people were born and raised on the island. Others were born here but grew up and went to school abroad then came back home with degrees and different experiences. Some people aren't at all from the island but the melting pot of amazingness adds to my 'wordly-island view'

I'd love for you to share your views and comments with me while I continue to craft  

my idea of an 'island aesthetic.'