Tiana Anglin's Metroparadise: The Future of Kingston
Published:Tuesday | July 31, 2018 | 12:00 AMLatara Boodie
Art not only allows us to portray our interpretations of reality but also gives us the ability to travel through time and provide a distinct convolution of colours that can depict the past, present and future. Illustrator and painter Tiana Anglin's vision of Downtown Kingston can be seen in her phenomenal 8' x 44' illustration called "Metroparadise".
"Metroparadise explores the value of art and its integration with the built environment to tell the narrative of the space and time," said the 20-year-old Edna Manley alum who admitted the piece took a lot of detailed research. Metroparadise features pre-independence buildings such as Kingston Parish Church, Hibbert house, the Theatre Royal also known as the Ward Theatre and the Kingston Harbour. "In these buildings, we see a lot of references of British Colonial styles which include brick buildings, Georgian style architecture," explained Anglin who used a monochromatic colour scheme for this section of the illustration.
CHAOTIC REPRESENTATION
The painting transitions into a post-independence depiction of Downtown Kingston which highlights the current use of the space and historic buildings. "I still maintain a monochromatic colour scheme with pops of colour to bring life to the scene. I show the clothes, garbage and the use of the space today. It is a chaotic representation of the space," said Anglin.
The final segment portrays Anglin's interpretation of the future which is bright and in full colour. "In the first illustrations I focused on the buildings, but for the last one I brought the environment to incorporate with elements of the architecture," she said. Anglin has kept pieces of the past architecture to maintain the history of the space. She incorporates the vibrant nature of the people in the depiction of colours in this section. Modern elements such as the use of glass are used to replace brick and concrete structures to allow light to enter the buildings.
Many can see the great potential of Downtown Kingston within the underlying infrastructure of the neglected buildings within the space. By focusing on its strengths within the countries capital, the project envisions this area of the city as a visual representation of local culture and landscape. "Considering the present plans for the redevelopment of Downtown Kingston, This concept not only acknowledges physical needs but tells the story of Kingston through its built design," said Anglin.
AMAZING FEEDBACK
Creating this three-part illustration in under five months was not an easy feat for the young artist. "This was my first time drawing architecture and I had to redo the first building several times. The buildings had to look like they made sense," she explained. She used a combination of flat emulsion and acrylic paint to create the pieces.
"The feedback on my work has been amazing, people really enjoy it. A lot of people come with their own interpretation and it is always good to hear what they think," she said. Metroparadise has become a definite conversation starter for anyone that comes in contact with it.
Anglin's passion for art is evident in the detail present within each segment of the Metroparadise. "Art is something I love and something I always wanted to do," said Anglin. Her journey with art began as soon as she could hold a pencil and was fully supported by her family and friends who have helped and guided her in realizing her true potential. Her aim is to continue her passion and build on it to produce more art and increase the quality of her work.