A painting by a young artist sparked social media anger this week. The picture, which depicted the first family of President Irfaan Ali, his wife Arya Ali and their son, also depicted a mother, baby and a little girl of African descent. The first family was depicted as the president holding his son in the background, while the face of the First Lady was highlighted in the foreground. The first family stares forward and smiles. On the left of the First Lady’s illustration is the mother holding her baby and the little girl staring at the First Lady. The woman could be interpreted as being on her knees or sitting while the woman’s bending and back knees gave the impression of bondage. The little girl also holds a brown paper bag with the words ‘One Guyana’ and the First Lady’s name printed on it. Looks like she’s waiting for a pageant.
It was revealed that the artist was inspired by two paintings. A picture of the First Lady visiting a newly born woman in hospital and another picture of an orphan who received a gift from the First Lady.
While some thought the painting was beautiful, others were incense. I had a lot of questions. I was wondering about the artist’s intent. She reminded the little girl and the woman who looked in admiration of the First Lady of attempts to spoil women and girls of African descent by promoting women of other ethnicities. I tried to look at the painting objectively, but every interpretation bothered me.
The artist apologized for the way his work was received. He chose to change the painting by removing the mother, baby and little girl.
Many questioned the anger. Why do everything about race? Why do people of African descent often have to view themselves as being targeted or victims?
It is the power of the self to know who you are. People are empowered when they know who they are and focus on them.
But are the responses to the painting unnecessary? If any image in Guyana portrays one ethnic group as dominant, while other groups are inferior, would there not be cause for conversations and the right of the poorly depicted to be angry? Do some of our people think they are superior to others by their religion, culture and history?
It’s just a painting that some may argue, but if people can show their bias, and discrimination is not checked, those who care to deliberately target and offend will continue to cause harm and further promote division in contributing to the decline of the world. People of African descent have emerged from a history of discrimination, humiliation and dehumanization. The anger wasn’t just about the painting.
The anger is about the tensions that many would rather acknowledge or even believe to exist. It’s about the brush painting a group as poor, inferior or waiting for sheets. It is about reminding politicians involved in short-term projects such as distributing gifts to the needy while efforts to bridge the gap between rich and poor and eradicate poverty remain to be realized. It is about politicians being portrayed as saviors of the people instead of being servants of the people. It’s about the much-talked-about Anti-Blackness, including the firing of people, most of them of African descent, since last August and for no justifiable reason in the ‘One Guyana ‘alleged. The anger relates to the alleged discrimination by financial institutions that give more benefits and fees to people of African descent. It is about these efforts to make Guyanese second-class citizens in their own country. It is about the prejudice that is passed on from generation to generation.
It’s about the stereotypes about the Black family. We are not all from broken families where Black men have abandoned their children. Not one parent comes from one group in Guyana alone. Marriage is not only common in one ethnic group.
It must be noted that when analyzing the painting as compared to the paintings from which it was inspired, many noted that the woman in the picture was wearing a ring that would indicate that she was a married woman. But there was no ring in the painting that would give the impression that she was a single mother. If the baby’s father had been present at the painting to establish a balance between the first family and the ordinary Guyanese family the responses might have been different.
And, although the two main ethnic groups are of Indian and African descent, we are not the only peoples that make up this country. Someone who looks at the painting without any context might conclude that the order here is that there are two ethnic groups while one is dominant and the other is inferior.
The artist may not have thought that all these interpretations could be obtained when creating the painting. Apparently his intention was simply to display the work of the First Lady. But that’s not what the painting achieved.
Art is about freedom of expression. Artists are vessels used to illustrate our stories. Artists influence the perception of the masses. Art inspires conversation. Artists must use their intelligence and be clear about the message they send through their work. We must be aware of the society in which we work and recognize the struggles and weaknesses of the people. The painting managed to provoke uncomfortable conversations about race relations and the current state of our country. We cannot dictate how the artist should express himself but if a piece of art makes us uncomfortable or angry, we have the right to question and share our thoughts.
The conversations around the painting further revealed who we are and where we are. There is a lack of trust. There are stereotypes. People are tired of being respected. People want equality and for the politicians to serve all our interests without prejudice.
But it is also revealed that we are one in many ways, such as love, understanding and compassion. It was not just people of African descent who expressed their disappointment in the piece of art, but others as well. There are those who see beyond barriers of color and ethnicity. They are the ones where hope lies in Guyana.
All groups of people should focus on empowerment. When we are united, proud and certain of ourselves, others will have no choice but to respect and honor us.