ARTIST IN THE SPOTLIGHT | Allan Wallace
“The finite mind tries to limit the infinite.”
Welcome back to Cacique’s Artist In The Spotlight series - a journey into the thriving Bahamian art space and a look at some of the most exciting individuals pushing boundaries here in Nassau and around the world.
What do you think of first when you hear the term ‘Bahamian art’? If it’s ‘scapes of sun, sand, and sea, Allan Pacino Wallace has something to say about that. This polymath and autodidact is consistently reimagining what is possible across his many disciplines, working in a dizzying array of mediums that range from the familiar, like pen and paint, to the downright surprising, like table salt. He’s been called the ‘Bahamian Rembrandt’, but he’s no dunce in the new school either — Wallace’s masterful use of social media has propelled his career to new heights, and his work routinely ‘breaks the internet’ and garners international acclaim. At Cacique, we believe that consistently pushing boundaries in event design requires spending time with exceptional innovators, and hanging out with Allan Wallace is exactly what the doctor ordered.
“I usually get my inspiration from sitting still, looking up. I am a believer in God as a creator of all things. I figure since the beginning of time, he never stopped doing that - he continues to create. I tend to try to tap into that. ”
At Design Strong, anything will do as a paint pallet when inspiration strikes - like the seat of this chair.
Cacique. Where did your art journey begin?
Allan. My uncle O’brien Wallace drew all the time - he was an excellent artist. I used to try and mimic him and it just grew from there. I realized that I had a gift for art when in the first grade all the students were called up to the board to draw either a boy, a dog, or a car. I drew a boy, and it was the only one that wasn’t a stick figure, so I knew from then, and it kept on growing. My art teacher in high school - Mrs. Jackie Sainville - she was my first mentor. She really pushed me - sometimes during recess, I used to be on the basketball court, and she’d be like “You trying to be Michael Jordan or Michelangelo? If it’s Michelangelo, you need to get back in the classroom.”
C. Did you take her advice? Did you go to college for art?
A. I went to COB (College of The Bahamas) but spent less than a semester there before taking a different path. But the funny thing is over the years I’ve been invited back as a guest lecturer to COB, to speak to students about different forms of art and different ways to create. So it’s come full circle, which is pretty cool.
C. photorealism or surrealism - which style do you prefer and why?
A. I prefer surrealism over photorealism because it offers more room to be creative, but photorealism can be great also. Discipline is always a good thing.
C. You’ve been involved in a lot of murals around Nassau lately - where are some of your new favourites that our readers can go and visit?
A. There is a huge number of murals I’m working on now. There’s one on a soon-to-be-opened community center on Market Street, a tech center mural on Boyd Road, and a Rake n’ Scrape mural at Six ‘n Four on Carmichael Road. Tasty Teas has a few on Delancy Street, as well as Lukka Kairi in downtown. Baha Mar has a 3D perspective mural of mine at the Kid’s Club, and another Merman and Mermaid mural by the Casino Pool. There is of course the wall of the NAGB, and the ‘Victorious’ mural opposite the Central Police Station downtown. These are some of my favourites!
C. When painting murals, how does the location and surrounding space affect the final design?
A. If I’m locked in, I can paint a mural in the craziest of conditions. My surroundings are not in charge.
C. You have leveraged the power of social media incredibly well to get your work into the forefront of public consciousness - how has social media affected your creativity? Have there been any downsides?
A. Social media, when used right, is a beautiful tool. It can become a problem if it starts to become a supervisor of what and when you create. You are in charge.
C. You are clearly a study of the human figure - which artists, if any, throughout history have been an inspiration?
A. I love Michelangelo, Davinci and Dali. I have a connection with all three of them. Recently Sandro Botticelli has sparked my interest as well.
“I hate trends. I moonwalk when they show up!”
C. How did choosing celebrity figures as the subjects of the salt art portraits affect the process?
A. When I have used celebrities as subjects of my work, the ‘reach’ has been remarkably different because of the celebrities’ own established fanbase. That said, what has taken it over the top is when I thought a little deeper. For example, a perfect storm emerged when I recreated a meme of a super famous chef named “Salt Bae” out of salt. It went global and featured everywhere. Steph Curry out of Curry Powder was another huge success in terms of reach.
C. You’ve just been hired to perform salt art at your favourite celebrity’s birthday party - who are you performing for and where?
A. I would say Kevin Hart. He showed great appreciation for the one I did for him years ago, and made sure to tell everyone to check me out. Just recently he brought it back up when asked what was the most ‘over the top’ gift he have received from a fan. He said it was pretty amazing - with that type of energy it would be my pleasure to perform live.
C. What is your favourite new trend in the Bahamian art scene?
A. I hate trends [laughing]. I moonwalk when they show up!
C. In the past you’ve been known to collaborate with other artists - for example your ‘Trilogy’ exhibitions - who are your favourite Bahamian artists to work with? Who haven't you worked with that you would like to collaborate with in the future?
A. There’s a painter downtown who sits and paints for hours everyday. He churns out one image after the next. I would love to do something with him. Also every Wood Carver in the straw market - those guys are super gifted!
C. How has Hurricane Dorian affected your art, if at all?
A. It affected my emotions. My art was fine!
C. Cracked conch and a Sands, or conch salad and a kalik?
A. I’ll pass on both. Have any tonic water?
C. Fair enough! Thanks for your time Allan!
DISCOVER CACIQUE | ART EXPERIENCES
Cacique International is the leading destination management and event design company in The Bahamas, with a twenty-one year legacy of creating exceptional experiences for clients around the globe. At Cacique, we love to showcase our colourful Bahamian art scene and the characters that create its distinct flair. For more information on Allan Wallace, our featured artists and spaces, or to find out about curating a unique look and sound for your event, feel free to contact us.
Looking forward to the next chat! SMS:)