Art is popular in Paramaribo. The town has two art academies and regular art exhibitions. During the Kunst-en Kijkroute 2011 (Art and See Route 2011) nine beginning artists in and from Suriname were given the opportunity to display their work. From August 11-17 a walking tour led along six locations near the Palmentuin that exhibited an intriguing diversity of art.
The exposition was an initiative of Ylona Engel Putter and Lalita Adhin of the Kokriki Foundation. Ylona, "We like to encourage public and artists to get to know each other. Looking at art is inspiring, exciting and instructive. Art changes your view of the world and sometimes of yourself as well."
Cement art furniture of Armand Karsoredjo
I stared at what seemed to be wooden garden furniture, but appearances were deceptive. ”I make outdoor art from cement that looks like wood. The paint and subsequent layer of car paint give the pieces a texture of wood and make them durable as well," the Surinamese artist Armand Karsoredjo explained as we stood next to several of his creations in the garden of the Royal Torarica Hotel along the Suriname River in Paramaribo.
The result is sturdy-looking, functional pieces of art that would fit in parks or outdoor cafés. Some pieces displayed here were a wide bench, table and chair, a tree-like lamp, and one totally different piece: a cement leatherback turtle.
From cement art to paintings and mirrors at Paramaribo's Art Academies
The Nola Hatterman Academy (Abraham Crijnsenweg 6, Fort Zeelandia Complex) is an institute where art workshops are given to, among others, disadvantaged youngsters. During the Kijk- en Kunstroute 2011 one room displayed the works of mirror artist Erlan Brasdorp. He has sold his art but never participated in an exposition before. His mirrors are decorated with elements from nature: pebbles, seeds, leaves.
On the other side of the room were pictures from the artist Ludwig IJzer. Ludwig's brightly coloured paintings depict Surinamese historical heritage with images of Paramaribo's typical wooden houses and Creole inhabitants.
At AHKCO, Paramaribo's Academy for Higher Art and Cultural education (Academie voor Hoger Kunst en Cultuur Onderwijs), located on Waterkant 14, we saw the exhibitions of two artists: Tapasia Daryanani and Dorothea Nuyken. Dorothea is a German artist who has lived in Paramaribo for a couple of years. She led me along her first exposition that consisted of, among other things, a colourful, abstract series of earth and fire.
Batik art by Arti Abhelak at Guesthouse Zus & Zo
What I liked best about the tour was how this Art- and See Walking Tour showed a diversity of art materials. At Guesthouse Zus & Zo, across from the Palmentuin (Grote Combéweg 13A), was Arti Abhelakh's original collection of batik art. Arti started doing this work only a year ago. She asks handicapped people to make simple lamps with wooden frames, which she subsequently decorates with batik textiles that depict e.g. Hindu symbols and natural elements such as rice grains.
A bit farther down the road stands Buitensociëteit "Het Park" (Grote Combéweg 39-42). On the terrace of the first floor were the expositions of two wood sculptors. Oscar Adogo participated in the first Kunst- en Kijkroute 2010 last year as well. His work has been displayed in different expositions, among which in French Guiana and the Netherlands.
Wooden sculptures from David Linga – Fight for Freedom
The Surinamese David Linga started with an exposition in Paramaribo in 2004 and concentrates on two particular types of wood: moetoesie and snakewood. The open-air room was teeming with school kids from the Deviesbuiten School, who roamed around and admired the sculptures. Their preference seemed unanimous.
"That one," Marion said, pointing to a large, complex sculpture called Fight for Freedom. When I asked the ten-year-old girl why, she explained, "They are the same people as we are: Creoles." Identification with the piece appeared an important part of its popularity. The sculpture outlines the story of the abolition of slavery, when soldiers travelled into the hinterlands to tell the fugitive slaves they were now officially free. Misunderstanding the mission, the fugitive slaves attacked the soldiers and killed several of them, carrying the chopped off heads to Paramaribo to show their triumph.
Organiser Lalita proudly stood among the children. "Art is something beautiful for kids. At last they can do something that is not prescribed by rules; on the contrary, this is something that stimulates their creativity. The theme of this exposition is Seeing. Not just looking, but seeing; asking oneself "What do I see?" With this theme we hope to increase the spectator's own awareness of art."
Nature Art and Jewellery – Jennifer Baldwin and Vanessa de Vries
The last two expositions were held at Grand café Lekker! on the north side of the Palmentuin (Van Sommelsdijckstraat 22). Both artists had their first expositions here. Jennifer Baldwin collects "Mother Nature's amazing work" – as the explanatory brochure states – covering branches and parts of trunks of trees with a protective layer of lacquer. Through her exposition she encourages us to look at nature's everlasting beauty.
Completely different was Vanessa de Vries' display of jewellery. Earrings in different sizes and vivid colours are made of synthetic material but also of bone and coral.
Kunst- en Kijkroute 2012?
The leisurely walk took three hours. At 12 o'clock, the closing hour of the exposition, I returned to the Royal Torarica Hotel where artist Armand Katsoredjo is about to take his furniture to his pick-up truck.
Ylona returned as well and looked back on the exposition. "It is just great how Paramaribo is currently stimulating all kinds of art movements," she said. "We hope to continue next year with a third Kunst- en Kijkroute, and are looking for ways to increase the exposure of this exhibition. Sunday was a particularly good day with more than 100, mainly local, visitors. During weekdays the daily 20-30 visitors were partly locals, partly tourists. Another challenging goal is to get more schoolchildren involved."
To learn more about Paramaribo's cultural activities check out online cultural agendas such as Sugenda.com. To stay up to date on the development of the Kunst-en Kijkroute 2012, check Kokriki Foundation's Facebook page (under construction).
Karin-Marijke Vis - Karin-Marijke Vis is a bilingual writer (Dutch-English) who has been traveling in Asia and South America since 2003.
