{"title":"L'Shaun Cato","description":"\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0609\/4215\/5907\/files\/Lshaun_Cato__Profile_Photo_2026.jpg?v=1782398016\" alt=\"\" width=\"298\" height=\"449\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eB.  - \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eTrinidad \u0026amp; Tobago\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eL'Shaun Cato is a Trinidadian visual artist working primarily in oils and acrylics. As a recent graduate of the University of the West Indies Visual Arts programme, her current practice is an ongoing investigation into the nuances of my cultural identity.\u003cbr\u003eHer work seeks to subvert dominant stereotypes of Trinidadian identity by\u003cbr\u003efocusing on more intimate domestic spaces as the true root of culture. By exploring\u003cbr\u003ethese private spheres, she aims to uncover the quiet, persistent rhythms of our shared\u003cbr\u003eheritage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDuring her time at UWI she was involved in various student shows, participated in\u003cbr\u003ethe painting of two murals at the Mt.Hope Children's Hospital and won first place at the\u003cbr\u003eUNDP Caravan art categories in both the regional and national level.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eArtist Statement\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eMy current practice is an ongoing investigation of my cultural identity. Through\u003cbr\u003emy work, I explore my disconnect with the stereotypical Trini identity and the impact of\u003cbr\u003erepresentation on belonging. Dominant representation of Trinidad identity often\u003cbr\u003eemphasizes Carnival, soca and heavy drinking as defining cultural monikers; individuals\u003cbr\u003ewho do not identify with these expressions may experience cultural displacement. My\u003cbr\u003ework allows me to look beyond dominant expression and instead focus on more intimate\u003cbr\u003edomestic spaces as the home for cultural identity. My experimentations with collective\u003cbr\u003ememory and borrowed culture begin to resolve the tensions I’ve experienced between\u003cbr\u003ethe self and the collective.\u003cbr\u003eWorking primarily in oil and acrylic paint, I allow the needs of each piece and the\u003cbr\u003enature of the story being told to determine the medium selected. This flexibility allows\u003cbr\u003eeach work to develop its own visual language rather than conforming to one that is\u003cbr\u003epredetermined.. Drawing inspiration from both classical and contemporary painters, I\u003cbr\u003eseek a balance between realism and surrealism, combining careful observation with\u003cbr\u003eimaginative interventions. By moving between the familiar and the imagined, my\u003cbr\u003epaintings reflect the complexities of personal and cultural identity and reveal how\u003cbr\u003ememory shapes our understanding of self, home, and belonging.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"every-creed-and-plate-2","title":"Every Creed and Plate 2","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEvery Creed and Plate 2\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eL'Shaun Cato\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMedium: \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eOil on canvas\u003cbr\u003eDimensions: \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e20 inches diameter\u003cbr\u003eYear: 2026\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDescription:\u003cbr\u003ePart of an ongoing series, this piece explores how food can act as a symbol of culture and identity. It was created in response to my own questioning of which aspects of Trinidadian culture I connect with most. Food is ever-present in our lives and often takes centre stage at social gatherings, serving as both a source of nourishment and a way of bringing people \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003etogether.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe painting depicts a plate of traditional Creole food from a top-down perspective,\u003cbr\u003eencouraging viewers to engage with the meal directly. While the dish shown is typically\u003cbr\u003eassociated with Creole cuisine, it is not uncommon to find them in East Indian, Spanish, or other Trinidadian households. This reflects the cultural blending that exists in Trinidad, where traditions, recipes, and customs are shared across communities. In this way, the work highlights food as a point of connection that transcends cultural boundaries and can beenjoyed by people of all backgrounds.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!----\u003e","brand":"L'Shaun Cato","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47357132406915,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"XCD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0609\/4215\/5907\/files\/LshaunCato_EveryCreedandPlate_2026.jpg?v=1782398429"},{"product_id":"eat-it-or-lie-down-by-it","title":"Eat It or Lie Down By It","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eEat it or Lie Down By it\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eL'Shaun Cato\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMedium: \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eOil on canvas\u003cbr\u003eDimensions: \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e35.5 x 23.5 inches\u003cbr\u003eYear: 2026\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDescription:\u003cbr\u003eInspired by a personal memory, “Eat It or Lie Down by It” depicts four versions of myself seated around a dining table. Each figure appears displeased with the situation, sitting in front of an unidentifiable plate of food. Despite this, they are rendered in vibrant dreamlike hues of pink, purple, and blue. A soft vignette surrounds the scene, suggesting the faded nature of memory.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe title references a saying that many Trinidadians and people across the Caribbean will\u003cbr\u003erecognize. Building on the ideas explored in the “Every Creed and Plate” series, this work\u003cbr\u003ereflects on the cultural significance of food and the role it plays in expressing care, community, and belonging. Looking back on a childhood memory of rejecting a home-cooked meal, the meaning of the saying begins to shift. What once felt like a demand is now understood as an expression of love and provision.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe chosen perspective places the viewer (and myself) in the position of the adult delivering the familiar phrase, “eat it or lie down by it.” By revisiting the memory from this new vantage point, the work invites a reconsideration of the experience and the intentions behind it. Through this shift in perspective, I gained a deeper appreciation for the care that was being offered on a plate.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!----\u003e","brand":"L'Shaun Cato","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47357212590211,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"XCD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0609\/4215\/5907\/files\/LshaunCato_EatItorLieDownByit_2026.jpg?v=1782399268"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0609\/4215\/5907\/collections\/pict20140418_161316_0_efa2a51c-08ba-4823-9de7-7b29b44382b0.jpg?v=1782398065","url":"https:\/\/mustiqueart.com\/collections\/kesia-estwick-copy.oembed","provider":"Mustiqe Caribbean Contemporary Art Show","version":"1.0","type":"link"}