Jamaicans are a set of people known across the world for their talents and various contributions to the art industry.

In recent times, local artists such as Anthony Smith have made their creations more visible to the public, through colourful painting displays of the Jamaican culture on canvas that once stood bare across the island.

The 25 year-old, whose artist name is Taoszen, is a member of a trio of muralists including Jordan Harrison and Yanque Yip.

On his individual journey as an artist, his mission is to send messages through his paintings about the importance of various social issues.

“I try to help companies and individuals to make important and meaningful marks, especially in the public space, to send important messages about human development, culture retention and caring for the environment. And I love exploring these philosophies with bright colours.”

While studying art at Devon All Age, he fell in love with the subject at the fourth grade never looking back.

But, it was not until 2015, when he graduated from Knox College, that he began to take it more seriously, influenced by artists such as Rembrandt, Shepard Fairey and Tristan Eaton, who shared his love for collages and photomontages.

He shared that he likes bright colours in particular because they last longer, but also because they easily catch persons’ attention.

“Bright colours act as petals on a flower. The bright petals on a flowers pulls in the bee to get the substance, the nectar. So, that’s what the bright colours do, they pull you in so that when you are actually paying attention to the message of the artwork you can see beyond the colours themselves and see the substance.”

Messages behind his creations

Through Kingston Creative, he was able to paint one of the largest murals in Curacao, a challenge that he welcomed and completed within seven days.

In the heart of Willemstad, Curacao, a vibrant mural by Smith stands tall, a representation of the connection that humans have through shared understanding and language.

The mural features four hands holding each other, a representation of the four languages spoken in Curacao, English, Dutch, Spanish and Papiamentu.

While speaking with Our Today, Smith shared that in creating this mural he aimed to spread a Caribbean wide message that though we may be different we are all connected.

“The four hands that you are seeing are four different cultures, four different races, four different classes, four different languages, all coming together to make one image, one Curacao, to make one Caribbean, one humanity and one culture. Out of many different cultures, people and foods we have diversity that creates one Caribbean,” he explained.

Through some of his local creations, Smith also explores topics such as human development and the environment.

As it relates to human development, he centers his art pieces around youths, highlighting that the many dreams they want to achieve are possible.

Smith shares that he believes the way to do this is by building a strong foundation within ones self and he tries to relay this message in some of his pieces.

‘Play Time’ in particular is an artwork of his that focuses on the importance of balance, a message he wants to send to the younger generation.

“As soon as you can understand what it means to achieve something, you are responsible for it. You should not waste your time but don’t be too serious in your books and forget to play. Create that balance that can help you to achieve something as an individual and contribute to society.”

As it relates to his pieces on the environment, Smith says he is currently rewriting his perspective.

But his main aim is to get persons to understand that environment is not just about nature but everything in existence beyond your physical body. And, as humans, we must take care of it.

When asked what value he believes artists contribute to society, Smith told Our Today that he believes “artists are the translators between potential and reality”.

“Potential is where everything comes from and an artist is someone who digs into potential with their bare hands. What they pull up is something that adds value to society and humanity. They bring something to the present reality that contributes to our human experience, something that we wouldn’t have if they had not taken it out of raw potential.”

He added that when artists tap into raw potential they turn it into something that persons can enjoy, look at and use to understand their culture better and treat their environment better.

Artists are communicators, said Smith, speaking in a language that everyone can understand.