Pen’s latest show is impressive
His contributions to Belizean music and art are approaching the status of legendary…but Pen Cayetano is not the type to rest on his laurels. The 2004 version of his annual exhibition, now on at the Belize City House of Culture, is his most ambitious in years…as News 5’s Janelle Chanona found out.
Janelle Chanona, Reporting
At fifty years old, Belizean Pen Cayetano remains true to his roots keenly in tune to the tempo of his heritage…and the rhythm of his brush against canvas.
Cayetano is in Belize to visit friends and family, and to launch his latest exhibition titled, ?Gumbay Night?.
Pen Cayetano, Artist
?The Gumbay Night is talking about the time when slavery was here in
Belize and the slaves used to enjoy playing their drums every night after
they work. It was a hard time for the slave masters to have this king
of noise happening at night because they couldn?t sleep. So they tried
all different kind of ways to stop this kind of movement of this Gumbay
Night here. After so much times trying to stop it, they couldn?t stop
it so it lasted until the people they changed into different directions.
But in the time when they started it in the 1700s it lasted very, very
long; maybe a two hundred years.?
Using historical writings as inspiration for some of the paintings, Cayetano says he captured ideas for the others during his last visit to Belize.
Pen Cayetano
?When I come to Belize I usually do a lot of sketches around the country
and when I go to Germany to my studio then I continue the sketches there.
Apart from working, sometimes we have to do poetry and I use sketches
to do most of my works.?
While many of his pieces are traditional cultural scenes from around the country and even a special portrait of popular Belizean icon Seferino Coleman, there are also strong indications of European influences.
Pen Cayetano
?I?ve already experimented with so many different styles already. I used to start with the naturalistic kind of painting. Then I branched off from there to a little bit of abstracting and right now I am on impressionistic kind of paintings.?
?I studied most of the artists? works and I visit many museums and galleries. So I compile them all together and I bring out my own impressionistic kind of style. Well it?s typically me, Pen Cayetano.?
All the pieces in the art exhibition are for sale. Janelle Chanona for Channel 5.
Gumbay Night was officially opened Thursday night at the House of Culture and will run through November twenty-sixth. Since 1990 Cayetano has resided in Germany with his wife Ingrid and their three children.
