Jamaica is a cultural mecca (not up for debate), we are internationally known as a people with an abundance of talent in the arts. So much talent in fact that our many and varied art forms have started movements, influenced the worlds consciousness and changed other cultures.
The creative arts’ nominees represent the new wave of Jamaican artist taking to digital platforms to interpret, create and promote their own brand of post modern art. The beauty about that is they’ve largely emancipated themselves from traditional scrutiny (i.e the elites who decided what art was seen or not seen).
Being on digital platforms means their art is now accessible to all of us to consume and reinterpret for ourselves, its us who now dictate value.
Meet the Digital Jamaicans in the Creative Arts to Watch in 2020.
Saccheen Laing
Saccheen Laing is the award-winning author of two books, the Curly Hair Club and Thrones not Cells. She has also the author of The Poets Escape and other poetry Collections. Her work has attracted celebrity fans such as Rosario Dawson & Nick Cannon.
Born and raised in Spanish Town, St. Catherine she graduated from the University of Technology with a BA in Communication Arts & Technology. In 2018, she was the recipient of the Prime Minister’s Youth Awards in Arts & Culture.
Recently Saccheen launched a crowdfunding campaign to turn her book Thrones not Cells into an animated series and is accepting donations here.
You can find and connect with Saccheen on Instagram, Twitter & LinkedIn.
Romario Lynch
Photgrapher at Seen By Lynch
Romario is a self-taught hobbyist photographer and artist from St. Elizabeth who’s been on the creative scene. He first picked up a camera in 2014 as an outlet to express his frustration but that quickly turned into a hobby and now a full fledged career.
Since then, he has been an unstoppable force in the local and international arts and entertainment scene garnering quite a lot of attention and admiration.
Romario’s is a provocateur known for his signature saturated, moody night photography style and his keen eye for the female form. His works have been featured in popular digital publications such as Vice, Billboard, Global Grind, & Carib Voxx.
You can find and connect with Romario on Instagram & Twitter.
Gashwayne Hudson
Illustrator & Story Board Designer
Gashwayne is the creator of Spectacular Specs, an animated show/ comic currently in development but that has already won several awards including the top prize in the Story Board Category at last years staging of the KingstOOn Animation Conference.
He also won the second place in the Best Character Design Category, and was a second place winner in The Best Concept Category.
He has years of experience in the field of Illustration and design working for both local and international clients. He has wide-ranging expertise using several and illustration software such as Clip Studio Paint, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign and is currently teachin himself animation using ToonBoom and TVPaint.
You can find and connect with D’Andre on Instagram & LinkedIn.
Allayne Williams – Illustrator
Allayne is a visual artist from Port Antonio, Jamaica known for his bold Jamaican/Afro/Cosmic fusion style.
You can find and connect with Allayne on Behance.
