Nigel Matthew opened first solo expo at Westin Art Gallery

by Aruba Daily on Monday, May 16, 2011 at 5:36am

“Roots, Religion and Reptiles” will be on view until mid-June

Aruban artist and former art teacher, Nigel Matthew opened his first solo exhibition on Saturday night to a packed Westin Art Gallery full of his family, friends and fans. Using the religious symbolism he grew up with in the heavily Roman Catholic Society, he has created modern “iconic” art works which embraces the same devotion and richness as traditional Greek Orthodox icons. His religion’s elaborate amount of symbolism and rituals played a great role in his childhood fantasy, and part of this exhibit are these fantasies on canvas.

He was also intrigued by a recent discovery of an old family photo album, and challenged himself to allow his new discovery to be the source of inspiration for his first solo expo. Beautiful photographs of his parents, grandparents and other relatives, being the Roots of his Life, left their imprints on his retina, but it was a great challenge to create works of art that could reflect not only his ethnical background, but also his skills as an artist. So he chose to make use of the old art form of painting religious portraits on wooden panels, in a contemporary style.

Once he got on his creative rollercoaster as Nigel calls it, everything started to fall into place. He took the liberty of playing with shapes, colors and textures coming from his fervent passion for shells and lizards, as a replacement for so many religious symbols. Reptiles, such as lizards and iquanas, the most common fauna around us here in Aruba, boldly shows off their undeniable beauty on his canvasses. These creatures often come to visit the artist in his studio.
Nigel hopes that, by means of these visual images, to either sympathize or criticize the never-ending theme of Religion.

The Westin Art Gallery is located in the upper lobby of the Westin Resort in Palm Beach. The gallery welcomes everybody to come in and view the art at any time. Roots, Religion and Reptiles will be on view until the middle of June.

OPENING Exhibition of " BEGoogELING " ( DELUDE) at ATELIERS '89

Upcoming Thursday night it's so far: Opening of the art pieces made during the workshops Photography and Image and Sound.


The workshop Photography guided by master artist Rob Slooten, accumulate a great deal of nice pictures. A group of fifteen students who participated at this workshop produced in ten different assignments a total of more than a thousand great pictures. Of these grand total a severe selection has been made under the keene eye of master Rob Slooten.

A great part of these pictures selected will be printed on a larger size. Wonderful is it to see, how these different participants within their own style, trough these different assignments, made these unique pictures. From pictures put into special scenes to pictures taken of the street life. There is a great deal of interesting pictures to come and see and admire.

Image and Sound, dictated by master artist Hans Muller in Music, has come up with a great deal of art pieces unique and apart.

With a selected group they have been producing different animation films. Very special is the series called "Spititu" (ghost), wich has been made at night with a selection of colorful masks. Also the films where a "Cashew" plays the main role, called in Dutch " gezellige maatjes", (happy mates). As Hans says, the participants worked very experimental and from the start they came with excellent ideas and grouped up to produce these. This came to produce a couple of most interesting movies.

From Thursday May the 26th and up, these art works can be seen and appreciated. With a grand opening on Thursday evening, starting at 8 PM., and as usual with a swell party full of performances great food and drinks.

So put this in your agenda or Black Berry so you won't forget and come and visit us. We look forward to see you .

Entrance is free.

Date : May 26, 2011


Time: 8.00 PM

Ateliers '89 is situate at Dominicannessenstr # 34 in Oranjestad right behind the old hospital.

For more information you can call Tel: 588 577 6 or Mob: 565 46 13

SOLO EXHIBITION ARTIST ARUBA: NIGEL MATTHEW