Jamaican Hartley Matthews tells the tale of his roots through ‘Cultural Kaleidoscope’

However, our ability to tell tales covers not only our oral or even our musical ability but encompasses our visual connectivity as well.

Our legacy of gifted and extraordinary artists is renowned throughout the four corners of the earth and highlights just how truly remarkable we are at showcasing our culture in all its grit and glory.

It is with the backdrop of this legacy that another Jamaican has been inspired to produce his own collection of work, relevant to the colourful discourse that will forever surround Jamaican culture.

Hartley Matthews’ body of work entitled 'Cultural Kaleidoscope - A Journey Through Art', focuses on the rich tapestry of art and its multifaceted influences.
Matthews, who migrated to Canada many years ago, has never forgotten how pivotal his foundation is, hence his work reflects the heritage inspired by his homeland.

“Growing up I was inspired by myself and my art teacher in primary school,” he tells Old Harbour News. “As a young boy, I liked to draw comic book characters such as Superman, Batman and even cowboys.”

Born in Old Harbour, he grew up in Kingston from the age of 18 months and attended Greenwich Primary then Haile Selassie and Trench Town Comprehensive high schools.

“I have many siblings. My mother, who is still very active and healthy, is from Old Harbour while my dad, now deceased hails from Palmers Cross in Clarendon,” he said. “Growing up in the city was a great experience that I would not have traded for anything. I enjoyed going to all the schools I did, participating in all kinds of activities concerning the arts and just growing up immersed in the richness of our culture.”

Art, he said, was always around him.

Matthews recalled: “My early artistic influences ran the gauntlet from Ras Daniel Hartman and Barrington Watson to Rembrandt Van Rijn. These coupled with some of my teachers like Miss Harvey at Trench Town and Christopher Gonzales at the Jamaica School of Art along with Allison Stimpson, helped to mould me and they became my mentors.”

His love of art would eventually transform him into his own leadership positions as head of the art department at several institutions including Titchfield High, Garvey Maceo, Moneague Teachers' College and the assistant head position at Jamaica College.

‘Cultural Kaleidoscope’ he said took roughly two months to compile and consisted of both  painting and drawings of both everyday people as well as beloved subjects including Empress Menen, Emperor Haile Selassie and Marcus Garvey.

These images he chose are a combination of what his mind has produced as well as actual live subjects.

“Some are real and some stem from my imagination,” he said. “The feedback so far on my work has been very positive, especially from family and friends. Hopefully, the response from the diaspora will be as encouraging.”