The Process
"If I don't have a particular subject matter in mind, I am usually inspired by my materials. The colours, patterns and textures in the paper allow me to visualize the possibilities and the little worlds I could represent. In most cases I want the work to be peaceful and light.
I begin with a general pencil sketch of the scene but not always. Then I rip the paper accordingly into the objects I am portraying; no scissors. I pay careful attention to the colour palette of each piece and the balance between reality and abstraction when it comes to the shapes of what I am trying to capture. I place and layer the entire piece before any gluing is done. In some cases I am doing the background last! Once the piece looks acceptable to me I remove everything bit by bit, then stick and seal the paper to the canvas.
The time taken to produce an individual piece of art can vary from at minimum two weeks to as long as 3 months. It does require patience but it never feels like work. Even though a lot of back pain is involved, there is almost nothing I would rather be doing!"
Kvita Mongroo is a Trinidadian/Canadian artist who studied art at Naparima Girls’ High School. Though her tertiary education led her to pursue an undergraduate degree in Literature and Philosophy and two Masters Degrees in Philosophy and Public Policy respectively, art has remained a constant passion for the last twenty years.
She took early inspiration from Jackie Hinkson and Tonia St. Cyr, admiring the effortless appearance of light in their work. Her work primarily focuses on still life and scenery in the West Indies. She believes that the lightness of the enriched but relaxed atmosphere of the Caribbean is best captured through the innocence and imprecision of the paper collage medium. This meticulous technique allows for a deceptively simple play of colour, pattern and texture, resulting in the joyful mosaic that is island life. Almost two decades of work has culminated in this, her first collection.
