Some artists use paint. Some use fabric. Guy Beckles uses discarded items. "It can be anything," he said. "From broken toys to an old blow-dryer. What people may throw away is art to me." The former Mucurapo Senior Comprehensive art teacher hails his masterpieces as art in motion and hails himself as the best kinetic artist in the Caribbean.
What is kinetic art? Beckles says it is art that contains moving parts and encompasses a wide variety of overlapping techniques and styles. The motion of the work can be provided mechanically through electricity or by utilising natural phenomena such as wind, or by simply cranking a handle.
"I am the only practising kinetic artist in the English speaking Caribbean, hence I'm the best. I have no competition," he said, laughing. Beckles' art tells a story. Some are profound and deep, others not so much. To him, art is an expression. His most intricate pieces, he reveals, come to him in a moment of silence. "I'm a night person so that's when I do most of my work. With my art, I try to convey a philosophical or social movement. But I do believe that not all art has to say something serious, so some are very whimsical, just to enjoy." An artist for most of his 58 years, Beckles' artistic journey took many turns. In fact, the father of two was supposed to have been a computer expert. After all, that's why he migrated to the US after his seven year stint at Queen's Royal College to attend Dartmouth University, New Hampshire.
But things didn't go according to plan. "I just didn't feel it," he said, bluntly. He also tried his brain at psychology but he didn't quite feel that either. "Eventually I tried art. It's weird because I was never into art. I never even thought about being an artist," he stated. For one of his art projects, Beckles decided to use his background in mathematics and physics to "integrate it with the art"-the result was kinetic art. He didn't know it at the time but that was the beginning of his 32-year-old career in kinetic artistry. A meticulous artist, the Carenage resident says he can take anywhere from two weeks to two years to complete a single piece of kinetic art, some of which come with motion sensors. "Everything has to be very exact," he said. "Just by moving something a point five of a millimetre can be the reason the entire piece works well or the reason it completely falls apart. The Bible says Job had patience. I think I have more patience than Job." Beckles' art ranges from $5,000 -$55,000 and his goal is to make a lucrative living from his talent-something he has always wanted but has been reluctant to do.
"I've gotten so attached to my art. They are so dear to my heart. But I can't continue doing this and not earning something from it," he stated. "I hope to get a semi-permanent space to showcase my art. I also want to exhibit my work abroad." Until those dreams become reality, Beckles is also making his art, which he says are more suited to commercial spaces, available for rent. "It's mechanical art so a lot of people are wary of buying something that may break over time. I introduced the rental system so that people can rent them on a monthly basis with the option to buy." And while his art brings him great joy, he also admits that, at times, it also brings him "great heartache." "People always say, 'boy you so talented. But as much as it's a blessing, it's also a curse and a burden. It's always on my mind...I even dream about it. I can't sleep. I'm always thinking about what I'm going to do next. It keeps me up." His biggest concern, however, is preserving his artistic legacy. "I'm afraid that when I die my work will die with me. I'm looking for an understudy or an apprentice. Someone I can teach my skills to," he pointed out. Beckles may have to look a little further than he had hoped. His two children, he reveals, have already politely but firmly turned down the offer.
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Want to view Beckles' art in motion? Visit his exhibition at the Museum of the City of Port-of-Spain, South Quay. The exhibition runs until May 2.
