Features
Melissa Doughty
Paparazzi’s 2025 Carnival presentation will honor the works of Trinidad and Tobago artists such as Che Lovelace and Carlisle Chang.
The group unveiled its 2025 Canvas: Rhythm and Art presentation on July 13 at Mille Fleurs, Maraval Road, Port of Spain.
Paparazzi also plans to include interactive exhibits chronicling the artists’ journeys at future Friday shows.
In a media release, the big group said it wanted to showcase the rich contributions of local artists who significantly influenced the country’s cultural landscape over the years.
“The concept behind Canvas came out of a deep-seated desire to pay homage to the diverse and influential works of Trinidadian artists, including such notables as Che Lovelace, Shalini Seereeram, Nicole Tang, (the late) Boscoe Holder, ( deceased) Carlisle. Chang and Tessa Alexander, (who) have not only shaped the visual arts scene, but also left an indelible mark on the spirit of Trinidadian creativity,” the release said.
Belle, Credence, Motif, Luminescence, Soulscape, Mamzelle, Fleur, Rumba and Sitar form the 2025 lineup. The band is mostly a colorful feather set with its Rumba section being mostly white with colorful stripes as if a white canvas had been painted with colors.
Asked how, specifically, each artist’s work is reflected in the nine sections, a member of the group’s operations team Jase Calderon said: “Each suit features nine different artists and nine works of art from their collections.”
For example, Nicole Tang’s Metamorphosis was the inspiration behind the Motif section of Paparazzi. None of the artists designed any of the sections.
The designs were inspired by the color, look, texture of each artist’s respective artwork.
Calderon said Paparazzi always tries to do something that is local, that resonates with the judges and is inspired by local culture.
While the artists were not immediately consulted, they were later contacted for feedback.
“They came and did interviews and we got their feedback on the costumes and the performance,” Calderon said.
This content along with performances by spoken word poets, performing artists etc. will be exhibited on the last Friday of each month before the carnival at the group’s Roberts Street showroom, Woodbrook.
The showroom – called the Art Gallery for this presentation – opens on July 19. Costume registration is also scheduled to begin that day.
Calderon said: “The last Friday of every month will showcase different types of art and how it is expressed through people.”
He said Paparazzi maskers were eager to sign up and are ready for Carnival 2025.
“They hypnotize us, keep us going and this presentation is really something to learn. We always try to have something educational and immersive.”
The group celebrates its 11th anniversary next year and is made up of people from all over the Caribbean as well as foreigners who visit to share the carnival experience with Trinidadians.
Over the years, Paparazzi’s presentations have won third place in Band of the Year competitions in 2018 and 2019 and, in 2014, placed second in the same competition.
Giving more insight into what the artists’ work means to the group, the release said Lovelace – known for his striking and introspective paintings that capture the essence of Trinidadian life and culture – served as a cornerstone for the theme.
He added that Seereeram’s mixed media work exploring themes of identity and heritage added a contemporary flair to the presentation.
“Nicole Tang’s intricate and evocative sculptures and Boscoe Holder’s iconic dance-inspired paintings further enrich the canvas of Trinidadian art.
“Carlisle Chang’s seminal role in modernizing the Trinidadian aesthetic and Tessa Alexander’s dedication to preserving cultural heritage through visual storytelling all play integral roles in shaping the narrative of our theme,” the release said.
He added that the theme was not just a celebration but a testament to the enduring legacy of Trinidadian art.
