Psychedelic art brings out hidden meanings
Published:Sunday | July 13, 2014 | 12:00 AM
Keisha Hill, Gleaner Writer
It is quite unusual for local artists to enter the world of psychedelic paintings, however, Richard Nattoo is way ahead of the game with his mesmerising artwork. Just looking at the drawings, you are captivated by the hidden stories and the clean finish on each piece. However, you hit the jackpot when black lights are ignited and all the paintings seem to come to life.
It is a jaw-dropping experience, and by the time reality hits you, you realise that you have entered a whole new realm, and the pieces take on a deeper and more intricate meaning. Nattoo's exhibition was housed at the Redbones Blues Café on Argyle Road, Kingston, and was one of the more popular exhibits during Kingston on the Edge (KOTE) Urban Art Festival 2014.
His drawings are done with inks that become fluorescent under black light. The inks used contain phosphors, which cause them to glow when exposed to the ultraviolet (UV) light emitted from the black lights. In the United States, black-light drawings emerged as part of the psychedelic fashion scene between 1967 and 1969. Since then, the art form has not been popular in recent times and is generally viewed as a relic of the 1970s.
Inspired by television
However, as a child, Nattoo watched Pappyland on local television and was inspired by the drawings at the end of the programme that he said literally came to life. As many children did, he also drew cartoons, but he was more interested in the macabre - those which took on a grim or ghastly feel.
He was also influenced by Timothy Walter 'Tim' Burton, an American film director, producer, artist, writer, poet and stop-motion artist. He is known for his dark, Gothic, macabre, quirky horror and fantasy films such as Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Ed Wood, Sleepy Hollow, Corpse Bride, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Dark Shadows, and Frankenweenie, among others.
By 2011, Nattoo decided to start working more seriously on his craft after an interesting turn of events. This experience started an unforgettable journey for Nattoo, whose exhibition at the Redbones Blues Cafe is a continuation of a series of stories surrounding these events. "I started doing art more to vent my feelings. I was going through a very difficult time and art helped me to cope," he said.
"This is the third chapter in the realm, 'Silent Echo', but the general theme is finding myself and my individuality. I see myself expanding on this story and developing the concepts I have done in these stories," Nattoo added.
Fluorescent paint gives the paintings stronger colours and depth so it becomes 3-dimensional and 'alive'.
These paintings are each unique. If you turn on a black-light bulb in a dark room, what you can see from the bulb is a purplish glow. What you cannot see is the UV light that the bulb is also producing. According to Nattoo, he wants to give people the ultimate element of surprise because, as he stated, in reality, things are not always what they seem. "People are introduced to a different world when the art comes under the black light where they see the hidden messages. The wanderer is trying to find himself amidst the negative thoughts and energy which manifests himself into a negative being," Nattoo said.
Along with his art manager, Jamel Hall, they are in the process of compiling a book using illustrations from his artwork. He also wants to enter the National Biennial Art Competition and has already started working on Chapter Four for KOTE next year.
KOTE Archives Photos