The 14
artists whose work was selected for the Bicentennial Art
Exhibition of Chinese Artists of Trinidad and Tobago in the
Central Bank Foyer may not seem so very many when my database (or what passes for such on my computer) lists no less than 340 names of those who have had their work exhibited in TT.However, numbers can be deceptive. Most of the names in my list are "Sunday Painters" rather than serious, full time
artists. When you strip the list down to bare essentials, the number of Chinese artists of Trinidad and Tobago is impressive. Amy Leong Pang and Sibyl Atteck were founders of the Trinidad Art Society (now the Art Society of Trinidad and Tobago); in the catalogue for the current
exhibition Geoffrey Maclean writes that Atteck's work "celebrated the birth of a new nation with images of Trinidad and Tobago's landscape, birds, dances and festivals" — as can be seen in "Panmen" in today's Good Living feature on Art. Pang encouraged young artists, among them Carlisle Chang, and Ou (Edwin) Hing Wan who battled paralysis and pain to produce beautiful watercolours of Mayaro, Manzanilla and Guayaguayare, while Atteck's influence can be seen in the early works of Boscoe Holder. Chang is a giant among the Chinese artists of Trinidad and Tobago for his paintings, his murals and, by a wider audience for his designs for Carnival bands. His association with bandleaders Stephen and Elsie Lee Heung is legendary, however in later years he ceased to paint seriously due to the insensitive destruction of his mural, "The Inherent Nobility of Man" when the old Piarco Terminal was enlarged. Patrick, "Pat" Chu Foon is known more for his sculptures on permanent display in open spaces around Port-of-Spain than for his abstract art. Willie Chen, who, we're glad to note, is still very much with us, is both artist and author — and businessman. He, too, is a sculptor and prefers the abstract when painting. Audley Sue Wing also paints in the abstract genre. I was relieved to read in Maclean's catalogue that "Sue Wing continues to paint and exhibit, currently experimenting with water media and creating collages in his Santa Cruz studio" because I can find but one entry in my database of a single collage displayed in a group exhibition. I presume he is so well known he has no need to exhibit in the commercial galleries in the Capital and in San Fernando. Cynthia MacLean exhibited bas-relief works in copper, brass and aluminium, lately her works are very brightly coloured paintings of local scenes in oils and acrylics. James Amow is a graphic artist who experiments with a wide variety of media ... Greer Jones-Woodham's name belies her Chinese descent, screen printing on textiles is but one of her preferred media, her last exhibition intrigued with multi-dimensional views of unframed paintings, the work itself being part of the "frame." Brian Wong Won's crazy dancing houses, his crowded scenes of Carnival (reminiscent of the works of Adrian Camps Campins) are instantly recognisable — and indisputably Trinidadian. His near-contemporary (in age) Raymond Yawching is firmly planted in the real, the everyday: in sign painting, portraits, landscapes, motorbikes and boats. Two other artists, both women, take us into the contemporary world of art. Susan Dayal works in wire — and sheet metal and mild steel. Her works in wire, exhibited in CCA 7 and in Fort San Andres shocked some, impressed others — and caused some sniggers. Kathryn Chan didn't divulge her age in the MacLean catalogue in which we read that she was a painter, a theatrical designer for Carnival costumes and contemporary dance. Her latest works are installations ... So much for the graphic arts. The highbrow may sneer at playwright and actor Raymond Choo Kong (currently appearing in his own play The Chinee Man who is obliged to adapt, produce and star in farce after sexually suggestive French farce to fill the Central Bank or Queen's Hall to cover the costs of production and keep body ogether — or give up his career as a professional actor. We hear very little of musicians when listing the Chinese artists of Trinidad and Tobago. Like many other serious musicians who, so to speak, cut their performing teeth in the biennial Music Festival, Richard Tang Yuk, pianist and composer, can only keep the wolf from the proverbial door by emigrating to the United States. Edwin Ayoung, calypsonian "Crazy," is another migr among the many Chinese of Trinidad who have moved to the US or Canada where there is more scope for their talents. Indeed there is, to some extent, a state of flux in the Chinese community in TT. Wong Won is one of the graphic artists named in this feature who has emigrated to the US yet continues to exhibit every year, or every other year at Carnival time in Trinidad. And, at the same time, others are arriving from China to continue the tradition of working in the retail business, the catering trade or laundries so that their children can become doctors, scientists, bankers, lawyers, politicians, big businessmen — and Chinese artists of Trinidad and Tobago.