When Marcos Guerra laughs, he does so with great gusto – and he does so often. Born in Santo Domingo, this stocky ever-smiling Dominican immortalises the rich textures of life in the Caribbean using everything from ceramic paint to stuffed crocodiles. His vast, colourful canvases are spread liberally around the world; his lively Caribbean modernism described by critics as bringing to mind elements of primitive African art and Picasso’s cubism. “I’m from the Dominican Republic – in this incarnation,” he declares with the kind of jollity that spreads even quicker than a case of pink eye. Caribbean Soul, Fantasy And Mythology is the title of his first exhibition in Cambodia, opening this week. “The message,” according to a review by Lydia Keck in German newspaper Koelnische Rundschau, “is that there are no barriers between cultures and religion.” The Advisor met Marcos Guerra at Chinese House to talk ancient goddesses, stuffed crocodiles and drinking wine with Amy Winehouse.
Would you describe yourself as religious?
Not really, but I have a lot of faith. I believe in man first and then the creator, but by that I mean the universe. My journey really began because I have a lot of friends all around the world in the artistic community.
What’s your philosophy? Do you have one?
To think about the evolution of man and respect all cultures. For me, one person is linked to another. It’s the only way for the human race to survive, whatever colour we are: yellow, black, white. We’re all the same. If we went to Mars, the entire population would be considered Martians. Here on Earth… [Laughs uproariously]
I sometimes think I belong on Mars. ‘Oops, wrong planet!’ That should be on my tombstone. Tell me about your technique.
Are you recording this?! [Laughs]
Of course! I’m a bloody journalist!
[Still laughing] Why is it when people laugh that others think we are crazy?
Your art seems to celebrate the best of humanity, rather than document the worst of our craziness.
That’s human life: the vision or idea of a wonderful civilisation. Who is the bad guy? It depends which side of the world you’re on.
One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter?
Yes! It took me a year to prepare this exhibition. We chose very carefully which pictures we wanted to include. I work a lot every day, do a lot of painting. Until now I have painted around 3,000 pictures.
That’s pretty industrious. I thought you Latin American types were supposed to be laidback. No wonder you left. Manana? ‘No, NOW!’
[Still laughing] I like very much this one [approaches painting]. It’s dedicated to Amy Winehouse; the name of this one is Amy And Me Drinking Wine. [Laughs] I was very sad when she died. I understood that people like her, like Janice Joplin, they’re crazy bitches! [Laughs more] In a good way, an amazingly good way. [Laughs hysterically] Artists like Amy Winehouse are passionate; they don’t last for so long because they burn so bright and they suffer a lot.
But look what they leave behind them.
Yes! That’s why I painted this. She was a passionate woman. [Approaches another painting] You see the red? It’s passionate: the Caribbean sun, the beach; everything is very lively and colourful. You can understand why Caribbean people are passionate like this. And you are invited! I have an apartment in front of the sea and you are invited.
Done! So, lively and warm…
I like to play with the composition, the perspective. Things aren’t to scale – and look, here’s a little red door for me to run away through! [Laughs] And here a flower: flowers are very spiritual for me. I wanted to build the paint up so that it grew out of the canvas. I learned from [Dominican Master Painter] Guillo Perez how to use ceramics, powder and varnish. I prepare myself the pigment I want to use; it’s all organic.
I love the cherubs.
[Laughs] See the planets? The stars? I got this idea because I did a design for Grey Goose vodka. I did the box – and here’s a grey goose. On this one [Gestures to another painting], what do we have? Red Riding Hood and the wolf! And this one is based on an exhibition I once saw in Barcelona about ancient goddesses. This one, with her long neck, is a goddess of fertility. I interpreted it and put an element of the Caribbean in it.
That explains the long neck. I like that she’s wearing a Hawaiian shirt. What do the planes in your paintings represent?
Landing, being grounded.
Is that an actual crocodile glued to a painting?!
[Laughs] It says: ‘I can’t read.’ It’s a prophecy. This particular painting I made in Africa about four years ago; it’s a protest. You have these people from the Third World; Americans say they’re the First World.
Come on. Where did you get the croc?
London, from my grandmother! [Laughs again] She gave it to me. She had had it for 25 years. When I discovered she was going to throw it away, I asked her to give it to me and decided to put it in a painting. It’s amazing that people will kill an animal like this just to be a souvenir. That’s why I did this.
And what do you hope folk will take away from this exhibition?
I don’t know. I’ve done my work! [Still laughing]
WHO: Marcos Guerra
WHAT: Caribbean Soul, Fantasy And Mythology exhibition opening
WHERE: Tepui @ Chinese House, Sisowath Quay (corner Street 84)
WHEN: 9pm November 8
WHY: Ancient goddesses, stuffed crocodiles and drinking wine with Amy Winehouse!