Nyugen Smith
Down for the krown, 2013.
About:
With a fearless approach, multi-media artist Nyugen Smith embraces the role of cultural informer and champion of social justice. Drawing heavily on his West Indian heritage, Smith is interested in raising consciousness of past and present political struggles through his work which consists of sculpture, installation, video and performance. Growing up in Trinidad, Smith was profoundly influenced by the conflation of African cultural practices and the residue of British colonial rule encountered in his daily life on the island. Responding to this unique cultural environment, Smith’s art is a reaction to imperialist practices of oppression, violence and ideological misnomers.
Sound of hallowed, 2013.
Le fleur noir, 2012.
Ride on, 2012.
Truth is revealing, 2013.
In his practice Smith revisits such events as Belgian, Dutch, French and English occupations in Africa and the Americas, American reconstruction-era politics, racism and revolutionary movements. His performance and video pieces enable him to claim an authentic voice in challenge to historical inaccuracies, while exposing to audiences the concealed narratives that distort reality and evade truth. These investigations enable Smith to re-visit and question individual identity as well as past and present social orders. His interest in identity politics and social constructs has left an indelible mark on the global community as Smith seeks to redress historical misrepresentations, subjective politics and omissions of the truth. His fearless approach is informative, universal and humanistic. – Jeanne Brasile (text website)