About Caribbean Brushstrokes

Discovery

Artist: Alanis Forde

I am interested in escapism and what it means to live in a paradise space that is seen as a vacation or escape for others. What then is my escape? My paradise? That ‘third’ escape is what I am searching for. By creating my own paradisiacal landscapes a new concept emerges. Through my continued research culminating in the body of work I have created, I steer the conversation. I aim to depict the push and pull between feeling comfortable in my homeland and wanting to escape this paradise, and this internal conflict present.

My introspective paintings create a continuous dialogue between the figures and the paradise it’s submerged within. The use of unrefined brushstrokes, dotted textures, patterns and vibrant colours, allows the viewer’s eye to be in constant motion and transports them into a paradisiacal dystopia. The reoccurring figure in my work is a proxy named “Bubbles” who is characterised by her electric blue hair and red lips. Bubbles navigates these landscapes documenting, archiving and capturing the essence of what it means to be both trapped and free of paradise.

I have focused mainly on experimenting with ideas of (multiple) selves and self-discovery. Exploring ideas and concepts of varying gazes upon my female body, my Caribbean body, my black body. My proxy (the blue dotted female figures) derived from my college portfolio works that explored my ambiguousness towards dancehall queens and culture. Their boldness and directness in how they present themselves to the public inspired the first proxy called, Bubbles (blue wig). I wished for my proxies to be unabashed and have that sense of freedom with their bodies… with their sexuality. Something I’ve always been told growing up isn’t something to be flaunted. Bubbles embodies everything I am not. Everything I probably will never be.