Arriving in Moengo – Marcel Pinas and Ann Hermelijn
Moengo is located about 2 hours east of Paramaribo. A lot of mining was done here for its large reserves of bauxite. If feels very much like an African village here. Children laughing, roosters cock-a-doodle-doo-ing. Beautiful sunsets. So peaceful really. These pics are of our arrival into Moengo and a party that we attended for a person who died and would be buried the next day. All the women carried with them plaid fabric.
Marcel Pinas and Ann Hermelijn are working together to “re-enhance” Moengo after it had been devastated from The Homeland War – a civil war that happened between 1986 and 1992. With the purpose of lifting the spirt of the village and bringing pride back into the people of Moengo, they continue to work on arts based projects that involve the community, and invite artists who visit from all around the world to also develop projects that become part of the landscape of Moengo These artists also workshop with children and help with the various projects that Marcel and Ann have developed.
Marcel Pinas is a descendant of the Ndyuka Marrons. The civil war wiped out his birthplace. A former student of the Nola Hatterman Academy of Art then Edna Manley College of Visual and Performing Arts in Jamaica, Marcel’s work consists of monumental sculptures, installation and video that focus on the preservation of culture.
French Guiana
We drove to the town Albina from Moengo then hopped on a boat to French Guiana where we visited Villes et Pays d’Art et d’Histoire Saint-Laurent du Maroni – a prison turned gallery. I did forget that it used to be a prison as the space has a nicely rustic feel that is very cool and that I love. The ceiling is very high. Marcel and Ann can be seen in the picture of our return trip back to Suriname.
The Market in Saint Laurent du Maroni, French Guiana
The market looked so delicious. The colours were just crazy I wanted to bite into everything. I’m also attracted to repetition and enjoyed taking these shots of the fruit and veggies in bundles and piles.