Project Title : ‘Red is We’ - Trinidad & Tobago
Selected for scholarships 2009-2010, Course of Jewellery Design, School of Fashion, IED Milan

Red is the colour most expressive of Trinidad & Tobago. Red defines our national flag. Red is our national bird, the Scarlet Ibis and our national flower, the Chaconia. Red stands for the energy of the people. Red represents the richness of our pulsating cosmopolitan culture. Red symbolizes the love, beauty, courage and sacrifice of the nations’ past and present.

We gave birth to our national instrument, the steel pan. It is widely regarded as the only major musical instrument to be invented in the 20th century. The pan is a pitched percussion instrument, tuned chromatically and is made from a 55 gallon drum, the type that stores oil. Once played, the sweet melodious tune captivates and rejuvenates your soul.
Cosmopolitan at heart, the cultural explosion experienced is like no other.

The inspiration for my piece came from the colour red and the steel pan. The use of colour and each material embodies an element of my country. The splashing silhouette illustrates our explosive cultural mix. The intense shade of red used echoes the richness of our paradise land. The handmade steel pan motif pins, wrapped with stainless steel wire, merges with the physical attributes of the instrument.

The wire wrapping art included in the necklace significantly reflects the core of carnival and costume production. Aurora borealis Swarovski crystal beads were purposely wrapped into the head of the pins, to create a sparkling border which mirrors the beautiful Caribbean Sea surrounding us.

Furthermore the white embodies the purity and equality of our synchronized society. Lastly the title ‘Red is We’ is formatted in our broken English dialect.
A twin island richly blessed, Trinidad & Tobago can be luxuriously portrayed through every jewelry piece created.