Opposition Leader: LeRoy Clarke a true genius of the soil

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Opposition Leader Kamla Persad Bissessar says this country “has lost a true genius of the soil, icon and pioneer of Caribbean art” with the passing of Mr LeRoy Clarke. In a press release issued today, the Opposition Leader stated that “Mr Clarke may be gone but his revolution lives on. His masterful legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.” The following is a press release from the Opposition Leader:

Today Trinidad and Tobago has sadly lost a true genius of the soil, icon and pioneer of Caribbean art, Mr. LeRoy Clarke.

Mr Clarke was a truly gifted painter and poet, but those labels alone do not do him or his work justice. Mr Clarke belonged to that pantheon of great Trinidad and Tobago intellectuals, who transformed Caribbean culture, and proved that Caribbean artists could stand shoulder to shoulder with those from anywhere around the world. 

Drawing from the rich traditions of our local folklore, as well as his proud African heritage, Mr Clarke’s cavasses sought to depict the struggle of oppressed peoples. His brushstrokes were the weapons by which he hoped to emancipate those living under repression. 

Describing his work Mr Clarke once said “I paint with an intention for revolution. Every stroke of my painting is a suggestion of destroying the enemies of humanity, particularly African humanity. I paint for enlightenment, to bring us closer to parting the darkness and opening up the way to our origins

Mr Clarke may be gone but his revolution lives on. His masterful legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.  

I join the nation in mourning this great icon and offer my deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. 

As Mr Clarke joins his ancestors, may he travel well. 

CNC3 Editor
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CNC3 Editor

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