Artists Kibwe Loreilhe and Debra Evans enjoy a creative compatibility that is not experienced. Loreilhe's incorporation of non-traditional colours for certain pieces and Evans’ open-to-interpretation approach make for a good team.
Evans started her art journey after leaving her job as a graphic artist in advertising in order to express herself the way she wants. Though she has only been at it for around five years, she has already done 14 partnered exhibitions and has another coming up with Loreilhe.
“Two years ago, I didn’t know that I’d like metals and I didn’t know I could carve until maybe three years ago because I just wanted to try new things. You have a vision of what you want the finished product to look like and I think about what material I can use and how it would suit the piece. I never think, ‘I don’t know how to do this,’ I just think that I need to open and uncover it (the piece).”graphic design training, apply it to new materials and approach to art and create something that is mine.
[caption id="attachment_1011148" align="alignnone" width="867"] Artists Kibwe Loreilhe and Debra Evans will exhibit at Horizon's Art Gallery from April 18-29. - ROGER JACOB[/caption]
Evans said she hasn’t been formerly trained and considered it a disadvantage, but as she grew, she saw that it was liberating as she is not being told how to use the materials.
“I need to understand the properties of the material, but I don’t want to be told how to use it. So that has opened doors for me because now, I think, ‘Why not use canvas with metal?’ or ‘Why not combine things I haven’t seen before?’”
She said coming from a graphic artist background for over 20 years didn’t contribute to her art since she’s had to unlearn all the training which involved being precise and symmetric. Her father was involved in art and she believes she does art because of and in spite of him as he tries to tell her what not to do while creating.
“What I’m trying to do with my work is take that graphic design training, apply it to new materials and approach to art and create something that is mine. While I give props to all the people who came before me, I think it’s nice to take that foundation and extend it to new materials. Why only copper? We have more materials available to us now.”
[caption id="attachment_1011149" align="alignnone" width="975"] Debra Evans applies her graphic design training to new materials and her approach to art to create something that's hers. - ROGER JACOB[/caption]
She said copper tends to be a bit tougher to use, but add other materials and all the details can be added to the piece with no limitations. She said Trini art doesn’t have to only be the panman or a hibiscus, but rather those can be inspirations upon which different artworks can be built.
“That’s what I’m trying to do, so my work encompasses the divine feminine because I’m all about taking steps and going in a new direction with things. I would like to be one of the women that opens doors for other women.”
Evans said she has been offered t
