Architecture Caribbean: What inspired you to study art?
Shastri Maharaj: Nothing else appeared attractive and exciting. I knew it was an area that would be fun and play and not work.

AC: How do you keep your creative life when you're working under pressure?
SM: Yoga and meditation

AC: Where do you go for design inspiration?
SM: Observing life, the every day people, nature, mostly away from people and noise

AC: What projects do you have planned in the future?
SM: Some installation pieces, a 40 foot mural, some three dimensional work and to participate in some international workshops

AC: What do you want people to see/ feel/ experience when they look at your work?
SM: Connection, empathy, nostalgia, relationships. My child-like, simple work.

AC: You are a practicing Artist and professor, why did you choose to teach.
SM: It has been along road of some 33 years as an artist. The financial returns have not been that great. I have two degrees, a BFA and a M.Ed. I have had to work in a art related field as a art educator to offset expenses…. You know…pay the mortgage. This land is not the most supportive and understanding place to make a living solely on art. My first couple of exhibitions were huge financial failures. I no longer teach art, now I develop, design, and implement the visual arts curriculum as a curriculum coordinator with the Ministry of Education I am slowly becoming an administrator. I do not enjoy the job, I will be eligible for retirement in 2010. It is keeping me away from the business of art. I think I am most misunderstood in this job…out of the box thing!

AC: What are the most rewarding aspects of being an educator?
SM: Discovering that some students’ perception of art changed from bad to good. They have been able to use the art as therapy, to release pent up energies, to communicate, to make use of their leisure time…to discover SELF.

Movement in three

AC: What is the present state would you say of art and artists in Trinidad & Tobago and the Caribbean?
SM: Much more visible than before…the technology is all around. More graduates in art from UWI. There is greater sensitization and awareness of it. However, it is still in the closet. Parents are still unwilling to take the gamble with their children. There is still a lot of ignorance about the subject. Most adults have such limited exposure to art in their formal school training. Art is still in the domain of the rum and coca cola syndrome. It must be graphic, easy to understand, scenic, representational. The art galleries in particular prefer to showcase works of this nature. Non representational, semi abstract and abstract works of art continue to be subordinate to what is called “popular art”. Art therefore has not grown in terms of research and investigation. On the one hand ethnic art appears to have a strangle hold or monopoly. Largely our art remains mediocre.

AC: Is there a particular space in the city or country that you would love to do a grand exhibition for artists if you had the opportunity?
SM: Well maybe the hospital, bring some colour to the clinical. Other than that, it would be nice if there could be a national art gallery with very large walls and tall ceilings.

AC: What is your dream project?
SM: Murals all over the country.

AC: What do you think about Architecture Caribbean and its goal to highlight Architecture and the Visual Arts in the Caribbean and other parts of the world?
SM: Splendid, knowledge is empowerment.