L'Shaun Cato Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: 35.5 x 23.5 inches Year: 2026
Description: Inspired 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.
The title references a saying that many Trinidadians and people across the Caribbean will recognize. Building on the ideas explored in the “Every Creed and Plate” series, this work reflects 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.
The 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.
