By Sue-Ann Wayow
PIONEER in Caribbean art and national icon Leroy Clarke has passed away.
He died on Tuesday morning.
Clarke, 82, was the first to be conferred the title Master Artist by The National Museum and Art Gallery of Trinidad and Tobago in 1998.
Born in Belmont, Clarke was also versed in writing and poetry.
He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of the West Indies (UWI).
Social media has been flooded with memories and condolences of the revolutionary artist .
True genius of the soil
Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar described him as a “ true genius of the soil.” In a statement on Tuesday she said, “Mr Clarke was a truly gifted painter and poet, but those labels alone do not do him or his work justice. Mr Clarke belonged to that pantheon of great Trinidad and Tobago intellectuals, who transformed Caribbean culture, and proved that Caribbean artists could stand shoulder to shoulder with those from anywhere around the world.
“Drawing from the rich traditions of our local folklore, as well as his proud African heritage, Mr Clarke’s cavasses sought to depict the struggle of oppressed peoples. His brushstrokes were the weapons by which he hoped to emancipate those living under repression.”
She quoted one of Clarke’s statements about his work.
“I (Clarke) paint with an intention for revolution. Every stroke of my painting is a suggestion of destroying the enemies of humanity, particularly African humanity. I paint for enlightenment, to bring us closer to parting the darkness and opening up the way to our origins”
And Persad-Bissessar said Clarke’s legacy will imprinted on generations to come.
