Art - Brief history

 

Three faces of Eve (wax and dye)	Jack (wax and dye)

 

'Johnson's lyrics and movements interact with Soodeen's art to produce the optimum effect of expression.'
(Malini Saith; Trinidad Guardian Newspaper, December 16, 1995 Trinidad WI)

 

In the same year I created art backdrops for the live recitals of the Trinidadian performer poet/writer Joanne Johnson in Café des Artistes (Trinidad WI).

 

SACRED SEXUALITY (Joanne Johnson) Once I knelt before my saviour and kissed him O so intimately. Stroking my hair, he received my love unflinchingly. He said, 'There are many ways to show your love and this is fine too.' I thought, 'I need to expand my repertoire.' The next time he visited me, he touched me, (down there). I recoiled, reliving the betrayal of childhood innocence. He said, 'Do not be ashamed. Did I not shape and mould you inside and out? Then should I not offer life's sweetest caress?' (Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me.) One day I looked through my wrought ironed windows and peered beyond Neighbors' chain link fences, boundaries, limitations And the veiling revealed the truth of my sight: I saw the world on that day screened with meshing protection from its pestering and it occurred to me when I saw you, when we touched, that this love we were making through the bars of flesh and blood through the cells of being human had jailed me in genitalia. So, I became that prisoner. I surrendered to my captivity and in my cell of solitude even as you were loving me, I dreamt of Eastern temples that bear my secret fantasies - of yogis who sit, erect with lovers impaled in a transporting embrace and with single-eyed gazing soar beyond romantic stars to receive each other in higher union. I look through my windows no more and the revelations of a universe in me have brought me home and then home again - free, in my sacred sexuality.

Sacred Sexuality (wax and dye) Concept - Joanne Johnson Artist - Vanessa Soodeen

 

'In time it reached me as knowledge, I have come 'face to face' with myself in the art.'
(Wendy Baptiste - Journalist: Trinidad Guardian Newspaper, November, 1996 Trinidad WI)

 

In 1996 same year I had the first 'FACE TO FACE' Exhibition (Solo Exhibition: Trinidad WI, 1996).

It brought one face to face with...
Women from different walks of life and their place in Trinidadian Society along with their feelings and opinions. It was a multi-media exhibition including paintings (acrylic on wax and dye), photographs, altars to each painting, verse and an audio of interviews which provided a direct forum where the women could express themselves.

I was interviewed by TV personality Judy Alcantara for the National TV station TTT (Trinidad WI)

 

Nameless face 3 (wax and dye)	Nameless face 6 (wax and dye)

 

'The Art of Healing - Vanessa Soodeen, Midwife to Ireland's emerging multicultural society.'
(Clodagh Mulvey, 'dfame' magazine June/July 2000 Ireland)

 

'FACE TO FACE 2000...Legal Aliens' (Solo Exhibition: Dublin, IRELAND, 2000) continued this study of women.

It brought one face to face with...

6 Immigrant women (Canada/India, Russia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Malaysia, Spain, Kenya) who were trying to obtain or had already obtained legal status in Ireland. Whether legal or not however, elements of alienation still prevailed, brought about by differences in culture, language, skin colour and political ideologies. So 'Legal Aliens' showed in fact that having legal status does not always bring stability or a sense of belonging. The exhibition depicted their feelings of alienation and integration, estrangement and belonging, rejection and acceptance, fears and hopes. It was a multimedia exhibition involving oil paintings, sculptures, photography and a video to represent their authentic words and expressions.

'FACE TO FACE 2000...Legal Aliens' was chosen by City Arts Centre (Dublin, IRELAND) as the exhibition to open the annual 'World Stories Multicultural Art Festival' in Ireland. In support of this show the Kiskadee Art Gallery and British West Indian Airlines (Trinidad WI) collaborated to present me with the very first Kiskadee/BWIA Exhibition Grant. This together with a grant from the Arts Council (Dublin, Ireland), made this exhibition possible. Soon after, the exhibition was taken up by The Clothworthy Arts Centre (Antrim, IRELAND).

I was interviewed for a programme called 'Djembe - Multi-cultural Magazine Show)' which was broadcast on the National TV station RTE (IRELAND).

 

Empowerment (wax and dye)	Woman (oil on canvas)

 

'The exhibition features work that examines the spiritual side, questions relationships with the Divine, and looks at the journey initiated by a beginning that leads to another beginning... resulting in an awakening of self, in which you learn to love live and laugh'
(Suzanna Clarke; Express newspaper, feb 15 2002 Trinidad WI)

 

My Exhibition titled 'Inner Awakening ...Love Live & Laugh' was held in 2001 (Trinidad, WI).
Inner Awakening looks at the psyche's calling to awaken to one's God Self. It is the awakening that comes from one's connection with the Divine, a calling that leads one to embark on a journey back to your true Self. The exhibition intends to remind people about not only their human rights but also their soul rights.

The exhibition explores themes of survival, self preservation and instincts based on the 1^st Chakra Muladhara - (our ground or root energy centre) where red is the predominant colour throughout. The idea being to awaken this centre so that we can continue to grow towards wholeness.

 

Our Natural Economy (wax and dye)	Remembrance (oil on canvas)

 

 

I have also presented work in many group exhibitions over the years. Please have a look at the other sections under ART to see more!

 

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