– Local Artist Fiona Alert encourages us to explore diverse styles in showcasing Guyana
Local Guyanese Artist Fiona Alert
A paintbrush is not meant to be confined solely to canvases.
It has the potential to be spread across all sorts of blank spaces, such as cloth, jute, leather, and even mirrors.
This is the essence of the vision of Fiona Alert, who, through her paintings, is encouraging fellow artists to expand their expertise and explore diverse styles when showcasing their work in Guyana.
She demonstrated this approach in her most recent exhibition, “Artistic Expression of Fiona Alert,” held at Castellani House in Georgetown. During the art exhibition, Alert displayed some 49 pieces that went beyond what the average viewer would expect in an art gallery.
Alert has been in the art industry for as long as she can remember, having honed her craft at the Burrowes School of Art, where she created beautiful pieces that encapsulate the essence of Guyana.
In a recent interview, Alert shared why her art is so diverse, ultimately sending a message to others to broaden the scope of their creations. According to Alert, this stems directly from her creativity.
A Leather styled Art piece by Fiona Alert
“Well, it goes back to my creativity. I feel, as I think, that my creative ability is broad. And instead of just being narrow, with all the paintings looking similar or the works looking similar, it’s just to show the range of creativity. So that I don’t get bored while creating the pieces,” she explained.
She added that she chooses different surface areas for her pieces, bringing burlap (also known as jute) or other materials into her work.
Doing this is no easy task, she explained that there are various techniques involved. “One of the pieces was created using different leather techniques such as moulding, carving, painting, and burning to achieve the final look and appearance.”
A common theme in her drawings is an array of birds, with one standing out as particularly popular: the kiskadee.
Cloth styled art piece created by Fiona Alert
“Well, I can recall growing up as a child, hearing and seeing those birds—the kiskadee. I used to mimic their sound. The kiskadee is a very popular bird. Even though Guyana is full of different species of birds, a lot of people may not know the various species, but they would know the kiskadee because it’s so common,” Alert recalled.
However, she noted that creating these works can take time.
“I can’t say how long I take to create the pieces, because each one is different. I can work for maybe four hours, leave it, then work for four hours again, sometimes for three days consecutively or at intervals. Or, it may take months, depending on how much time I can commit to the work,” she explained.
Despite the time commitment, Alert believes that every Guyanese artist must stay true to their own artistic expressions.
“Every artist has their own vision, their own plan, their own dreams, or their own message that they want to convey. Everybody is unique to themselves. They each have a different message to add to society. To me, I think artists should be free to express themselves however they choose,” she emphasised.
Coupled with this is a deeper message that she is emphasising—Guyanese must reflect on the beauty of their nation. She skilfully represented this concept by creating a collage with a mirror and leather.
Mirror styled art by Fiona Alert
“Amongst my art I am also showcasing a mirrored piece that contains painted lilies… which represents lily leaves on water. Guyana has a lot of rivers and trenches. If you look at some of the waters in the country, you can see these leaves. The concept is like looking down at the river and seeing the reflection in the water. It’s a mirror and water, reflecting the beauty of our country,” Alert revealed.
She also expressed hope that people who are artistically inclined but unable to showcase their art due to various reasons, would be inspired by her work.
“I hope they would be inspired by the work. I hope they can gain a message from it and find a sense of relief from everything going on in their personal lives or in society. This is just like a getaway for them,” she said.
“It depends on how much art means to them and how much their dreams and inspiration mean to them. Yes, but it calls for a lot of sacrifice, discipline, determination, and focus,” she added.
Those interested in visiting Alert’s gallery can do so at Castellani House from Monday to Friday, 10:00h to 17:00 PM, and on Saturdays from 14:00h to 18:00h until April 19.
