“Queen of the Maroons”
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Details
Queen of the Maroons
2022
Grivas Vasilis (Greek)
Gift of International Reggae Poster Contest
🔗International Reggae Poster Contest Website | 🔗Artist Website
National Gallery of Jamaica until June 3, 2023
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On View
In Conversation with the Artist
Vasilis Grivas was born in Lamia, Greece. He is an illustrator of children's and adults’ books. In his long career he has worked with many publishers and illustrated more than a 100 books and covers in Greece and worldwide. He is also involved with painting; participating in group and solo exhibitions. He also writes and illustrates his own stories, which have been published internationally. In 2022 he made prints on linen, exclusively for the collection "Dassios S / S 22 campaign" by fashion designer Dimitris Dassios, for his collection spring-summer 2022. He is a member of the Chamber of Visual Arts of Greece. His piece, Queen of the Maroons, is on view at the National Gallery of Jamaica as part of the 29th Art of Reggae Exhibition until June 3, 2023. Established in 1974, the National Gallery of Jamaica is the oldest and largest public art museum in the English-Speaking Caribbean.
How did you first learn about Queen Nanny?
Years ago, I wanted to know more about Jamaica, and the course of the island through the centuries until today. I also wanted to learn about the important figures of Jamaica who were directly connected to its history. That's how I found Queen Nanny.
What was your experience creating a piece from another culture?
Because the culture of each people is something extremely powerful, it is an element of identity and it is a mixture of many things that has its roots in the past of each people, in the experiences, the needs, the environment, the climate, the history, the religion and a bunch of other things, I tried to approach it with respect and consideration, and mostly as a challenge. Jamaica and Greece are separated by an ocean, they are in another hemisphere, they have a different time. What unites the two countries is the sea, music and female heroes
Are there similarities with Jamaican culture and your own culture?
The two countries, Jamaica and Greece, have a common path to independence, and that is the heroic women. Women in Greek history played an important role in the liberation of Greece from the Turks. A hundred years earlier than the Greek heroines, Queen Nani, when she led a community of enslaved Africans, thus becoming a legend! The Greek heroines, who played a catalytic role in the Greek revolution. These are strong, female figures who gave their lives for the freedom of our country. Greek women, who fought and sacrificed in order not to fall into the hands of the enemy, but also women, who allocated entire fortunes for the liberation struggle and died in conditions of absolute poverty.
What story are you telling in this piece?
I simply narrate in color the personality of Queen Nanny, who with a determined and strong look, is ready to change the situation of her country and her people. The beings that the Queen Nanny holds in her hand represent her people tired and impoverished by slavery. The Queen Nanny's hand holding the creatures with protection and care is contrasted with the Renaissance Madonnas holding the infant, and the sanctity of the moment depicted here.
Do you think your experience as a writer and illustrator for children has influenced how you use color and texture?
I've only written two books, so it's hard to call myself an author, so I'll speak as an illustrator. When the illustrator illustrates a book, he has to use color to tell a story from the beginning, that's how I approached the painting on the poster. This is an almost priestly figure here, and I treated the color and texture accordingly. Drawing is dark and harsh, the illustration I do for children's books is bright and happy.
How do you want people to feel when they see your piece about Queen Nanny?
I want people who see Queen Nanny to have a conversation with her, because I painted the poster with that in mind. I believe in the power of art, and that is to cause it to disturb, because it can make you think and put your mind into other channels.
It is my expectation to win at least one person, who will be able to identify with the message I want to pass through the image, and the images do not need a translation to understand them, they are powerful on their own. Queen Nanny eventually became an idea and ideas for people are powerful, an idea is worth fighting for.
Thank you for your time, Mr. Grivas
