The art of survival
By Patrick Matbob
Painting has been Larry Santana’s life since leaving school
more than 20 years ago.
It is a life that has made him famous in PNG and given him
international exposure. Today his works can be seen decorating the streets and
public institutions in Port Moresby where he has lived most of his life.
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| Larry Santana |
However, it has not been easy for Santana to pursue his love
of art while trying to raise a family in the tough environment of Port Moresby.
In a country culturally rich and diversified as PNG, there
is still no art industry to support talents like Santana. They have to either
struggle or find other jobs.
To put food on the table, Santana has had to take on
commercial jobs that ensure a regular income. Display advertisements for
newspapers and billboards, murals, and commercial projects have taken up much
of his time.
“I’m a painter. However, I don’t have the time to do what I
really love,” Santana said.
In December last year, he decided to change all that and
moved home with his family to Madang.
“I wanted to be a ples
man (villager) and do what I always wanted to do,” he said.
“I’ve decided to go home and live as a true artist and
produce real painting for our heritage.”
Sprouting lengthy dreadlocks and dressed casually in
paint-stained shorts and T-shirt, Santana’s easy-going and friendly nature
belies his true self. Beneath the calm exterior is a determined and courageous
person who has overcome the difficult and often precarious life of an artist.
His plan to come home does not mean life will be any easier.
He still has to feed, clothe and educate his children. In fact, the move has
virtually taken him away from Port Moresby, a city where opportunities to
succeed are usually better.
But he has his reasons. Besides painting he wants to pan for
alluvial gold or sell eagle wood that are abundantly found at his mother’s home
in Ramu district.
At the moment though he is working on a project to capture
the legends and folklore of the Yabob people near Madang town. And the local
people are impressed with what they have seen so far. They have asked him to
record and preserve all their legends and myths on canvas.
Santana’s struggle as an artist has not gone unnoticed. He
has been invited to attend the 7th International Symposium of the
Pacific Arts Association in New Zealand in June. This came as a surprise.
“I was shocked when I received the invite to go to New
Zealand to participate in the symposium,” he said.
One of the papers to be presented at the symposium by
anthropologist Dr Pamela Rosi will be based on Santana’s life story as an
artist in PNG and the Pacific.
However, at the moment money is Santana’s major obstacle. He
has to raise about K9,000 for the trip to cover his tickets and living
expenses. He does not have much time and is looking for sponsorship from
Government or business houses. For his part, he is willing to provide his
services or donate paintings to those who sponsor him.
A strong advocate of PNG art and artists, Santana feels his
attendance may help to draw attention to the plight of his fellow artists in
the Pacific.
“I believe my attendance at the symposium will help us.”
Santana has visited and exhibited in US. He said the
interest in contemporary PNG art is enormous in US however, there is very
little promotion and marketing in the country.
Madang province has been a leader in contemporary art in PNG
with names such as Cecil King Wungi and John Mann in the forefront in the 70s
and 80s. Wungi and Mann have had no formal training however their work has been
a major influence on Santana and other artists of today.
Santana feels it is his turn to do the same. He wants to
work with the young people in Madang to develop their talents in contemporary
art and to record the legends of the province.
“I want to cover all the legends of Madang and bring them
back to life for our young children.”
Ends
726 words
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