5 minutes with Brianna McCarthy
Can you just give a brief biography of yourself i.e. your name, age, country of origin and residence?
Brianna McCarthy, 26 years old Trinidadian visual artist – working and living in Trinidad and Tobago.
Where and how did you learn the arts of drawing and painting? Was it fun? challenging? or both?
I can’t really recall how or where learnt. I can say for sure that it has been gradual and still is a process – I haven’t had any formal art training. It’s been both a challenge and greatly fulfilling.
Why did you decide to become an artist, and what were the inspirations for your works? Was it past artists, real people you have come across or something else entirely
I haven’t actually made that a conscious decision! I’m doing what I love; what excites me and calms me at the same time. I did make a decision in the last year or two, with great encouragement from those closest to me, to challenge myself by putting my work in a more accessible place. This was the reason I started Passion.Fruit. Before that my work was essentially very private. Thus far the strongest artistic influences on my creative perception have been Erte, Yinka Shonibare and Boscoe Holder. Outside of being influenced by other people’s work, generally people fascinate me. I think one of the loveliest things on the planet is a face. I love women, people who exist, live above stereotypes and boundaries
One of Brianna's works titled 'Josette'
You seem to have a certain likeness for painting portraits of black women and girls? Can you tell a bit more why you always do this?
Definitely. It’s a bit of self-portraiture at times. I can’t say it’s intentional though.
What were you or do you usually try to achieve with your painting? Do you try to give social, political or any other kind of commentary?
My aim is something simple; Afro-Caribbean women have always been portrayed as strong, long-suffering and exoticised in a world of poverty, hardship, abuse or scorn. The range of emotional experience and expressions of our women in Caribbean art and culture have thus been limited to these circumstances. Hopefully, my work exposes a new range of depth of expressions and emotions, which for the most part, are non existent in our recorded culture.
Another titled 'Victoria'
Have you got any up and coming projects i.e a new art work or are you featuring in art exhibiitons? Can you give a snippet of that please?
Right now, I’m working on a project with Rodell Warner, Trinidadian photographer and designer. I’m also looking forward to the 2nd Annual Trinidad and Tobago Erotic Art Week. I participated last year and it was a liberating experience. There’s also the opportunity to get into fashion design this year.
'Moremi'
Any advice or words of motivation for any aspiring artists out there?
I’m my very short time practicing I’ve learnt a few things I think are really important ; be true to yourself, be honest with yourself and challenge yourself constantly. Don’t stop working.
More about Brianna and her works can be found at
http://briannamccarthy.blogspot.com/
