Red Dots popped up like a measles epidemic at Marlon Hunt’s one-man show, “Emerging Passion” Show. No less than 17 of the 38 brilliantly abstract paintings sold during the opening of the event at The Central Bank of the Bahamas Gallery in Nassau.
The mood was completely Caribbean, right down to the steel drums of the Koe Smith and The Smith Foundation Band.
Noted Bahamian Art Collector Dawn Davis herself bought five of the young artist’s works: “Eve, True Embrace, Mother and Daughter, Father and Son and Bananas for Sale!’ and “Eve”. “They are just so full of colour, light and life. What can I say?” she said, adding, “There is such a sense of humour and sentiment.”
“Really exciting, really vibrant,” pronounced Gallery Curator Antonis Roberts at the opening of the 38 painting. “Emerging Passions” show, sponsored by MeesPierson (Bahamas) Limited, one of the leading offshore banking institutions in The Bahamas.
MeesPierson representative Adrian Edgecombe said, “I wish I could buy them all. Marlon Hunt’s work is inspiring, full of colour and passion.” He added, “We support as many young artists as possible. We supported Marlon last year and plan to do so again. One day Marlon Hunt will be a household world.”
Educator Arlene Nash Ferguson officially opened the show, saying, “We don’t know the plan God has for the life of every child or the gifts and talents given, but we see here the flowering of gifts and talents given to Marlon by his Creator”. She exclaimed at the paradox of “quiet, well-mannered Marlon at St. Johns, the epitome of what a mother would wish her daughter to bring home,” becoming an artist. “All this colour, passion and vibrancy coming out of Marlon. He has reached into his soul and produced something we didn’t see at St. Johns. …So much beauty. Thank you for sharing this exquisite talent with us.”
The artist, who gave up his job as a quantity surveyor last year to paint full time, explained, “My lovely wife said that if I did anything other than art she would be mad with me! So all of this is really Marlon and Rachael’s exhibition.”
An overnight success (after 15 years of dedicated work) the young artist winner of the 1993 Central Bank Competition, says, ” The title defines exactly where I am mentally, emotionally and spiritually. ‘Emerging’ describes the process of evolution and transition I came through over the past 16 years and the ‘Passion’ connotes the intense drive and conviction I feel to produce work that describes my thoughts and convey my ideas through a system of colours and design.”
Now painting full time, he adds, “There is absolutely nothing I enjoy more than expressing my emotions on canvas. I have always believed (as so many famous artists have said) that the works of art they produce were always lying dormant in their specific raw material whether it is stone, wood, canvas or any other material. For me, the same applies. Before I begin any piece of work I can see to a large degree, the finished product before me, sometimes crying to be released from its imprisoned state.
“I feel that with every brushstroke, every colour laid and the right timing, I am able to bring to life a distinct idea, thought or experience. I see my role in the entire process as being a facilitator, holding the power to bring to life a plain, lifeless piece of canvas, giving it the opportunity to have a voice and a character of its own.”
He continues, “Over the past year, I have been truly challenged as an artist. My entire mode of thinking and lifestyle has been altered in many respects. Due to the unfortunate incidents of September 11th 2001, just before my show last year my employer downsized the company. Little did I know that losing my job was actually a blessing and an opportunity in disguise. I had always envisioned myself as a world-renowned artist but never had the faith to believe that this dream could really become a reality, until September 2001. This opportunity presented itself and my thought for all of one minute was that if I was willing to give my all to this passion, then accomplishing this dream is possible.”
His new life as a professional artist is filled with many challenges and obstacles from finding venues to exhibit work, to securing sponsorship, to maintaining focus and discipline. He explains, “The true reality of this entire journey is that to engage myself in doing what I love compels me to be true to myself and by ding this, every struggle serves to strengthen my foundation and solidify my dreams.
“I believe that one’s talent and gifts make room for themselves.”
Marianne de Tolentino, Cultural Director for Santa Domingo’s Centro Cultura Cariforo, says of Marlon’s work, “the quality of the work is exquisite, a mixture of joy, love and sadness. His work is very dramatic. You have to look at least twice. First you see the colour and the aesthetic features; then the profound contents and reflect about the spiritual condition.”
The expert on Caribbean art continued, “The work of Marlon Hunt is Caribbean…because of the life and colour in his paintings. It is Caribbean…because you see the human condition reflected in his work and it is Caribbean because of the faith.”
Marlon Hunt’s work can also be seen at Kennedy Gallery on Parliament Street, Nassau and also at Luna Sea Art Gallery in Rock Sound, Eleuthera.
