SHASTRI MAHARAJ
Capturing the spirit in paint
By Peter Campbell
(1996)
Art, says Shastri Maharaj, captures the spirit. He believes it has less to do with the physical than with the discovery and appreciation of one's self.
"Art is about making a statement informed by an awareness, a philosophy of life. It's related to spiritual growth and primal ancestry," said Maharaj.
As an artist and art teacher, Maharaj says to the untrained eye many of his paints and drawings look very puzzling. "But after the person starts decoding the drawing new meanings come, " said Maharaj.
At the Chaguanas Senior Comprehensive school where he teaches, Maharaj not only attempts to make his students good artists, "but help them to become less ignorant and hopefully evolve into better human beings."
"I help the students recognize and identify the importance of art at all levels of the education system. Art is not simply about putting colours on paper or drawing. It will make people more sensitive to each other's ethnic and cultural perspectives. It teaches people how to survive in this world and give them choices."
Maharaj speaks from experience: As a young man growing up at Siparia Old Road, Fyzabad, he enjoyed art classes at the San Fernando Boys' Government School.
"For me it was not only a form of entertainment and something I did well in, but it made me understand more about myself and my actions. I was never a group player and I always roamed about on my own. Through art I was able to express myself," said Maharaj.
But even though Maharaj the boy saw art as his niche, he never envisaged it as a full-time career.
"That would have invoked the wrath of my parents. Back then you were either going to become a lawyer or doctor. Anything else was out of the question," said Maharaj.
But Maharaj stayed focussed. Every weekend while attending Naparima College in the 60's he would be painting or drawing. The San Fernando hills, lush greenery and south seascapes, were strong themes for him.
After graduating from College, he left for the University of Manitoba, Canada, in 1972 to read for a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, but this was not to materialise for him until several years later.
He returned to Trinidad and opted to teach Art at the Fyzabad Senior Comprehensive School. He subsequently taught at other schools.
In 1979 he enrolled at the Valsayn Teachers' Training College where he met art lecturer, Alexander King, who, he says, was a catalyst for "exposing me to a deeper understanding, purpose and nature of art."
"King presented me with a new vision and perspective on art, " said Maharaj.
That alliance also helped him to regain focus and as soon as he completed his studies at Valsayn in 1981, Maharaj returned to the University of Manitoba determined to attain his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
It was during this period that his first international exhibition was hosted - right there on the campus. Over the years, Maharaj's paintings have been exhibited all over the world including Germany, Canada, Barbados and Cuba.
His first local one-man exhibition, "Emergence of an Artist", was held in 1982 and a series of one-man exhibitions were to follow: "Primal Emotions", West Mall, 1984; "Recent Works", at Aquarela Galleries in 1987. He also had a travel art exhibition called "Carib Art" which journeyed through the Caribbean.
But while Maharaj could feel a sense of achievement with his work he thinks nationals show scant appreciation for visual arts such as painting and sculpture, as opposed to performing arts. "The society is caught up in the performing arts. Many today only see the visual arts in terms of mas'," he said.
He sees a "delinquency and immaturity" in the promotion of the visual art form, which has led to the "mediocrity" he thinks is now visible in TT's visual arts.
Maharaj explains: "There can be found today a certain degree of compromising where quality is neglected for quantity because of the economic constraints under which many artists work."
"This mediocrity has to do with art of a more commercial nature where similar types of images are continuously repeated for a tourist audience."
'Many art galleries, because of these economic constraints find it expedient to continue this mediocrity in order to make money."
"While one can understand their constraints, these art galleries cannot continue to encourage this mediocrity in the visual arts. Part of it can also be blamed on the increased technological developments."
Maharaj said that fewer established artists were now exhibiting their works because of this compromise on quality.
"There is also a lack of support and lack of awareness by the main stream artists and the public. All these contribute to a malaise that is occurring within the visual arts arena and, if not quickly checked, we may be looking at the death of the visual arts in this country."
He strongly feels that the only way this negative tide can be reversed is for Government to establish a "clear, concrete and tangible policy with respect to the visual arts."
"Currently there is an incoherent or virtual absence of any such policy," said Maharaj.
Part of this policy should include "aesthetic education" as an integral, formal part of the school curriculum. He felt right now the visual arts were not being actively presented in formal education system.
Maharaj said support of the visual arts is necessary if it is to become a viable industry.
The father of two children, Vinodh, 16, a student of St. Mary's College and Ravi, 13, a student of Tranquility Secondary, Maharaj describes life right as a "great struggle" - for he sees about two families.
On the one hand he has a wife, children and two dogs and on the other hand he has another demanding woman - his Art, who keeps him producing many paintings which he sees as his "other set of children."
Maharaj loves to cook and said he and his children talk a lot. "Children need guidance today and must see love and honesty in what you as a parent do. They need to have a balance in their lives," said Maharaj.
Most of his paintings are done at nights in his studio office located in a back room at his home. For Maharaj, this place is his "sanctuary", where he is able to dig deep within himself and let the creative juices work full time.
Those creative juices have been doing great things for Maharaj.
In 1989, he was acknowledged at President's House for his contribution to the Arts in Trinidad and Tobago.
The National Museum and Art Gallery of Trinidad and Tobago also purchased one of his paintings - "Check Valve" - which forms part of its permanent collection.
"This painting, which took four years to complete, depicts the multi-cultural perspective that is Trinidad and Tobago." Said Maharaj.
He is now working on paintings for an Indian Arrival Day exhibition in 1997 called "Indentureship" and has been commissioned by the Rotary Club of Chaguanas to produce a painting for Prime Minister, Basdeo Panday.
Maharaj's renowned work was also recently mentioned in two foreign publications - "Caribbean Visions, Contemporary Painting and Sculpture," by Art historian, Samella Lewis and "Carib Art, Contemporary Art of the Caribbean."