The steelband and Carnival worlds' glittering lights dimmed when a living treasure was lost-Aldwyn Chow Lin On, who died on July 29.In a rare interview given by 'Chow Lee' in his earthy, colourful speaking-style, he detailed his involvement in steelpan and mas in a career that spanned almost half a century.Chow Lin On was disdainful of massive Carnival costumes that needed wheels to move."In 2006 we went on stage with Jupiter: God of Light and the Sky, the whole Grand Stand went up in an uproar," he said."They put all the big donkey carts in front of me. What do you do with a hat? You wear it. What do you do with a shirt? You wear it. What does a jackass do? He pulls a cart. How could a costume be something you are pulling? You have to carry it."Chow Lin On said that was the reason he chose words to try to get the stigma out of people and to encourage mas people in the "engineering and construction of large-scale, animated kinetic structures.""Form follows function," he opined."If you want to have a category for donkey carts, that's okay with me, but please don't put me among the jackasses. The costumes have to be an extension of the human form."
International acclaim
If you were fortunate enough to look at his highly detailed, scaled technical drawings, you would be astonished to learn that he did not have a degree in bio-mechanics, human anatomy, or engineering, but was mostly self-taught."I think I got the message out," Chow Lin On said."It is only now to teach the people how to make them, so next time I will have 12 or 15 dancing costumes."Whether I win or not, it does not make a difference because we have to have new blood."Nottinghill Carnival was also touched by the brilliance of Chow Lin On."Some English women told me since my involvement with English mas, the standard and quality have risen dramatically," he boasted."My costumes have danced down London streets, concert halls as well as the prestigious Dome."Chow Lin On said the one disappointment he had was introducing pyrotechnics into mas."I'm sorry to say I was part responsible for introducing pyrotechnics into mas," he said."A Carnival king wanted me to incorporate special effects in his costume. It looked like a giant UFO, but I'll never use it again."Chow Lin On was one of the first people to experiment with new materials in Carnival costumes."The first year in 1976 we used cane, aluminum and fibreglass," he said."I've been using foam, it's easy to work and cheap, because England cannot spend money like Trinidad."Chow Lin On said all the bands in England, no matter how small, received grants from the British Government."England knows how many hotel rooms are filled for Carnival. It's over two million people on the road watching mas. Here you can't get duty free concessions or help from the Government."Nobody who is buying costumes from China, Brazil or India should win a prize in Trinidad."There was an English band that came here to buy these costumes that didn't sell and sent them to England. When the English Arts Council found out about it, they stopped the band's grant money," he disclosed.
For the love of culture
Chow Lin On gave form and produced some of the most spectacular costumes from Peter Minshall's designs."Together with Peter Minshall, we made some unforgettable costumes like Midnight Robber, Sacred And Profane, Mancrab and The Merry Monarch," he said."It's the whole. I have done together with Minshall, great work for the people. Look how much talent coming out. We were good at it."My passion is our culture, the Carnival the pan that is what I enjoy. That is what I remember of all the bands that I produced. When I wasn't making kings I was producing bands." Chow Lin On said he also cooked, did wood-work (he carved an intricate life-like replica of a carousel horse that rivalled a factory manufactured product), built bird-cages, fished and copper-work."I do wicked copper-work, you know," he said."I went to Ken Morris, the veteran copper-man, and asked him to distil his copper-work skill to me in one hour, to apply to a lighter material, foil."I am a fast learner, I just have to glimpse at it and I know how to do it."
Passing on the baton
When asked what he would like to say to the next generation of mas-makers, or what would he like to leave as his legacy, Chow Lin On replied: "I really want to concentrate on passing on the knowledge. I want to teach some young people those skills."I want to give them the experience I've had, the mistakes we made, not that we made many, but we did make them."He said Pat Bishop wanted to put his work in the archives and organise some workshops, and nothing would have made him happier."Minshall didn't do it. Wayne Berkeley didn't do it; pass the knowledge," Chow Lin On said."When I depart this world, I want to leave a legacy. I want to do it before I die."I've been trying to for more than 20 years, but nobody wants to take on this Chinese-looking guy. Minshall and I have brought Carnival right to the top, and now its just diving."Chow Lin On's son, radio station boss Tony "Chinese Laundry" Chow Lin On said his father did not have an apprentice.
