‘Ras Daniel’ highlights history in a new way

By Simone Tull

Daniel Alleyne, or Ras Daniel, as he is also known, has effectively captured the angst that preceded the 1937 riots. Inspired by stories told by his late grandmother in his youth, his exhibition titled The Retired Slave Apartheid 1937 opened on Thursday evening at the Queen’s Park Gallery. With a myriad of mixed media pieces in both 2D and 3D format, the talented artist’s pieces exude the pain that pervaded that period using simple household materials like galvanise, wood and barbed wire.

Besides being an artist, Ras Daniel is also an educator, and this project seeks to fill a gap in our educational system.

He said, “The significance of the show was to uncover this story in a language today that people can understand and relate to.”

He takes his role of imparting knowledge seriously, saying it is important to help young minds and young persons understand a bit more of their history. “I find that many young people are not interested in learning history through reading books and attending lectures. I tried to find a new way to present the history and to help to educate them more so on the period after the abolishment of slavery that led to the 1937 riots.” His work embodies elements of the era that was plagued by pain and suffering, child labour and the lack of a school system.

Daniel Alleyne’s emotive catalogue on showcase is significant as the celebration of African Heritage Month continues. Onika Small, Curator for the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) and the Queen’s Park Gallery in her welcome address expressed, “I want to congratulate Ras Daniel on creating a historical body of work that brings emotional light to societal conditions of 1937 which led to the riots.”

She added, “It’s refreshing to see contemporary work being used to chronicle a historical event. For us, it is unique, and it is well done.” She commended the artiste, noting, “He is able to create a visceral response to a factual or an intellectual report.”

There is an avenue for other artistes to have their pieces highlighted. Andrea Wells, Chief Cultural Officer for the NCF, shared, “In our post COVID-19 dispensation, individual artists or groups of artists can submit proposals for consideration for hosting shows which are conceived by them and their own creative genius. These shows are produced by the artiste or by the artistic collective and, if approved, are supported by the NCF in opening in this space.”

She indicated that the level of support is determined on a case-by-case basis. She continued, “We consider such arrangements a win-win situation for both the artist and the NCF. Both entities are able to grow through the experience.”

Though their 2023-2024 calendar will soon be full, they are still accepting submissions of more proposals from artists who wish to have shows hosted at the Queen’s Park Gallery. The foundation is seeking sponsorship from both public and private sector entities to fund these projects. “Strategic partnerships are therefore definitely the path to success,” Wells confirmed.

Historian Professor Pedro Welch reaffirmed the need for such an artistic showcase. He stated, “When people tell us forget the past, forget it, that it is gone, they fail to recognise that we are too closely connected to it to forget it. What Ras Daniel is doing for us today is to take us back into our past, which is a little nearer, but which is so closely connected to us that we are not supposed to forget.”

Ras Daniel’s pieces resonated with the attendees. Elizabeth Hinds was especially impressed by The Labourer. She told Barbados TODAY, “I like the aesthetic of the piece. I like how intense it is. It brings to mind stories that you would hear about Newton. The fact that they are buried, where they have worked as well, that for me was what stuck out the most.” She believes his pieces could be displayed in a museum dedicated to slavery. She lauded the marriage between the artistic and historic elements.

The attendees included former principal of the University of the West Indies, Professor The Most Honourable Eudine Barriteau and David Comissiong, Barbados’ Ambassador to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

Ras Daniel was delighted with the turnout on opening night. He expressed, “I feel very good to be the voice in an artistic way, putting the message across.”

The exhibition will continue until March 2, 2023. (STT)