Susan Mains at the TRIO Bienal in Rio De Janeiro

 

Following the monumental stride made by Grenada’s first appearance at the Biennale di Venezia, artists Susan Mains and Asher Mains have been chosen for the Trio Bienal, an international art exhibit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Beginning on September 5th and continuing until November 26th, 2015, this exhibition will display an international array of three dimensional art. Joining these artists from Grenada will be Giuseppe Linardi who was an Italian guest artist in the Grenada National Pavilion at the Venice Biennale.

The Trio Bienal is an international exhibition of contemporary art around the three-dimensional in his classic scope – sculpture, installations and objects – as well as in all its expanded fields – painting, photography, drawing, video and others medias as three-dimensional research, and will occupy several museums and cultural institutions in Rio de Janeiro. The overarching theme of the Bienal is “Who Said Tomorrow Doesn’t Exist?” and is curated by Marcus de Lontra Costa.

Asher Mains will be shown in the Centro Cultural Parque das Ruinas under the theme of “Gravity – Equilibrium and Balance”. The work being exhibited was seen in the Grenada Contemporary Exhibit put on by the Grenada Arts Council in September of 2014. It is an installation of images sprayed onto sail cloth with silhouettes of sea fans representing the life of the figures as well as our relation to the sea. The piece is called “Sea Lungs” and reflects a personal glimpse from the reefs’ perspective contemplating their own demise.

The multi-media/mixed media work of Susan Mains is rooted in her own personal experience, as well as in a deep commitment to the physical environment of Grenada. The video projected onto a bed-like platform shows a tropical flower impressed on the back of a female form.  A strong heliconia, its rigid forms becomes a scaffold for the healing of a spine.  Suddenly an x-ray with titanium screws appears in an actual spine, the metaphor exposing itself.   The bed is made up of crocus bags, those used in the agricultural sector to transport cocoa and nutmeg.   Spices, grown in Grenada, also surround the image.

The installation begs the question, "what if".  What if these natural forms could replace the surgical knife to heal a broken spine?  What if human cells could be taught to imitate the stem cell differentiation demonstrated in the helconia flower.  What if tomorrow could be better by honouring what is already in our hands.  Susan’s work will be shown under the theme of “Utopia – Preterites of Contemporarity” and will share exhibition space with well-known artists such as Los Carpentiros, and Vik Muniz.

This exhibition opportunity was made possible by the executive director of the TRIO Bienal, Alexandre Murucci who visited the Grenada National Pavilion in Venice before submitting the work to his own curatorial committee. This on going exposure for Grenada’s art is a reflection of the efforts made by Grenada, its artists and sponsors in representing Grenada on the international art scene.

The transformative and economic power of art is only now beginning to show its power in Grenada.

More info can be found at:
www.triobienal.com
www.grenadavenice.org
www.artandsoulgrenada.com
www.susanmains.com
www.ashermains.com
www.linardi.it

Still beautiful, the Caribbean exposed.

Even while preparing for Grenada's first exposure at the 56th La Biennale di Venezia, the beauty of the Caribbean still dominates the studio.  The sea and her boats, the land and her flowers, just pick your passion.

Banana Fleur in Violet , Oil on Canvas 48" x 34"

Banana Fleur Oil on Canvas 48" x 36"

God Bless Me Acrylic 24" x 36

Grenadine's Sail Oil 36" x 48"

Lillies Pond Acrylic 48" x 60"

Sailing Together Oil 48" x 46"

Sailing still Reigns

Looking forward to the Work Boat Races on Grand Anse Beach at the end of January.  Just a few paintings to celebrate!

Regatta Race 34" x 48" Acrylic

Sail Awaiting, 56" x 48" Oil

The folds of the sails always fascinate me--just waiting to be unfurled and start their symphony of flapping.

The Colour of Sail,  48 x 36, Oil

These young guys with this colourful sail were the proudest sailors that day. No one could compete.

More, More Caribbean Ladies Dancing

Solo Dance, Oil on Canvas 34" x 48"   

Dance Times Two, Acrylic 36" x 48"  

Big Drum Carriacou, Acrylic 36" x 48" 

These are some very popular paintings.  At least 4 regional calendars are coming out in 2015 where these paintings of  ladies will be included. Yay!  More dance, more colour, more traditional culture. 

More Caribbean Girls Dancing

After a couple of visits to Carriacou recently the big drum has found its way into the work--the colour, movement, rhythm, african tradition, these dancers just followed on.

18" x 24 " Acrylic on Canvas  Big Drum Dancing, Back to Back

18" x 24" Acrylic on Canvas Big Drum Dancing Line Up