Faculty of Art
Photography
Amara King
Trinidad Tabanca
Photography
2024
”Tabanca" in Trinidadian vernacular signifies a profound "love sickness," an intense longing or yearning that extends beyond romantic realms to encompass a profound sense of loss or absence. These photographs, captured in sacred places across Trinidad, embody my attempt to dismantle and reconstruct them, infusing each frame with the tangible imprint of my touch.
“My work weaves personal experiences, cultural roots, and the intersecting realities of my existence in both Canada and my ancestry of St. Vincent and Jamaica. Driven by an innate experimental essence, I go beyond mere photography, recognizing that a single snapshot often falls short. Eager to engage with environments in Trinidad, I playfully included site specific materials to fully immerse the viewer. Acknowledging fragility while unveiling new layers, of clothing and fabric. My creative process draws inspiration from the dynamic interplay between tradition and modernity. Through this lens, I encapsulate moments in time, preserving the essence of culture and ways of life. The deliberate act of reworking these images mirrors the fluid evolution of cultural identity, echoing the delicate balance between old and new, past and present. My body of work encourages viewers to embark on an experience, challenging them to see the world in a new and unexpected ways. By offering glimpses into the complexities of human emotion and cultural identity, I hope to spark conversations and foster a deeper understanding of the diverse tapestry of human experience. Through this series, I strive to bridge the gap between the familiar and the unknown, inviting viewers to explore the depths of their own emotions and connections to the world around them.My process work involves experimenting with emulsion lift, image transfers onto watercolour paper, creating these images into a playful folded book. I have also printed on Cold press paper to bring out the warmth and vibrancy in my images, then carefully arranged them with thrifted frames to create a homely experience. I have also decided to include furniture, found photo albums, and site specific materials - clothing lines, and clothes pins, dish cloth and clothes, to recreate the internal and external environments of Trinidad, the Caribbean, what feels like home.”
Work by
Amara King
Photography
“Amara draws inspiration from her Afro-Caribbean and Afro-Indigenous ancestry, with roots in Jamaica and St. Vincent, along with a newfound connection to Trinidad. Her artistic mission is to amplify...” [More]
Celebrate the work of OCAD U’s class of 2023/2024!