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The artworks with the theme AIDS were auctioned at the Centrum van Beeldende Kunst in Rotterdam and the proceedings went to ‘Het Parelhuis’, a Surinamese orphanage voor children infected with AIDS.
Videofragment courtesy of Eduard von Lindheim
Magazine excerpt of Island Temptations
Artist Vanessa Paulina documents the soul of her Caribbean memories through art.
“No serene landscapes for this island girl with Rasta tresses and hand-painted jeans. It’s the soul illuminating from her human subject that Paulina tries to capture.“
“And just who is Vanessa Paulina and what made her who she is? She grew up in an era before the tourism boom made its way through the Caribbean to Aruba. Packs of roaming donkeys and children playing barefoot games of catch the chicken were the norm. It was a time on the island that lacked prosperity but revealed a close-knit community comprised of intimate fishing villages and blue-collar towns. This was a place where neighborhood barber shops bustled on Saturday afternoons, and no one bothered to lock their doors. Sundays were a family day. The artist fondly remembers when her policeman dad and homemaker mom would take her and her two brothers and two sisters to the beach. Many other days were reserved just for her and her sister Shanella and hours of playing dress-up and with their Barbie dolls.�?
“Paulina was not born with a silver spoon, but instead took to a crayon, pencil, piece of charcoal, or whatever she could use as an instrument of expression. Paulina has had a passion for art for as long as she can remember. “I just could not stop drawing when I was a kid. It was something I could do by my self—my great escape into my own world. I remember staying up in my bed and drawing all night long, almost to the point of exhaustion.�?
“And so the obsession continued. Off to Holland when she was a teenager, Paulina received an art degree from The Willem De Koning Academy of Art in Rotterdam.”
“Her artistic flair also helped pay the bills. Finding more instant monetary gratification in fashion than with painting, she has worked as a freelance stylist for magazines and television in Holland. She has even designed her own clothes for small boutiques there. “I guess all those hours playing dress-up with my sister primed me for this part of my career.�?
“Although Paulina spends most of her time in Europe, of late she has been on a spiritual journey of sorts. She is rediscovering her roots and childhood memories. Many of her paintings are reflective of her Indian-African heritage and life as she remembers it in a pre-tourism Caribbean. It’s a free-spirited life she wants to capture and share.�?
Want to read the whole article? Visit the Island Temptations website.
poem By Drs.Crisèn Shorea
Vanessa’s Rhythm
First thing that catches the eye,
are the golden pipes on top of her head,
an organized chaos worthy of attention,
strategically arranged,
to protect the artist in action.
In her creations,
a twister of colors,
brought on with the stroke of a brush,
guided by the perfectionist within her,
never satisfied with the masterpiece just created,
leaving you out of breath for a second,
sucking you in, only for you to realize,
it’s been hanging in front of you all the time.
Antillean prodigy child,
with an uncontainable joy for life,
that touches all who surrounds her
the domino effect…
contagious!
By nature possessed by this creative restlessness,
which makes her eyes sparkle like those of a child,
who just masterminded her next big prank.
Born with the sign of Fire
in search of her Mother land,
who rocked her to sleep,
still longing for her,
and refusing to let her go.
She paints by the rhythm of her soul:
vulnerable, exposed, forceful, intense, passionately,
inspired, without limitations, connected, intuitively.
She paints Tambú.
©cschorea’09
Poem In Papiamento by: Drs Crisèn Schorea:
E Ritmo di Vanessa
Promé kos ku ta kue bo wowo
ta e tubunan di oro riba su kabes,
organisá den un káos digno di atenshon,
stratégikamente ordená,
pa no stroba e artista den akshon
Den su kreashonnan,
warwarú di koló,
guiá pa pènsel perfekshonista,
nunka satisfecho ku e obra maestra,
ku pa un sekònde ta ponebu pèrdè rosea,
trèk bo hinka bo den dje,
pa despues zonzá bo realisá,
ku tur e ora,
bo dilanti e la keda kologá
Yu di Antia prodigioso,
ku set di bida insasiabel,
ku ta pega na tur ku ta rondon’é;
Efekto di dominó,
kontagioso!
Di naturalesa poseedó di un inkietut
ku ta pone su wowonan bria,
manera mucha mala mucha,
ku a kaba di inventá su siguiente ‘bon plan’.
Signo di kandela
en buska di e suela
ku a yay’é,
a keda anhel’é,
i no ke pèrd’é.
E ta pinta riba e ritmo di su alma:
Sunú, ku forsa, intenso, pashoná, den trans, inspirá, sin barera, konektá, segun intuishon…
E ta pinta tambú.
©cschorea’09
“I fell in love with Vanessa Paulina’s work after reading an article about her. When we met, my feelings were confirmed. Both painter and paintings are head turners: beautiful, lively and strong. On opening night at the SinFa expo I rushed to claim “Mucha Santo”. Being able to look at that child every day makes me very happy.”
Annemiek van Vliet
Communications, Translation and Photography
“GHILDHOOD – Grown-ups never understand anything for themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them.”
Alex Da Silva
Artist
“Those little girls and boys have been swimming in my small brain since I have seen them. The conciousness, it makes me realize about beauty in my heritage and the beauty in little women, kids, what love can actually create, and equally how fragile life’ s happiness is. Those kids show the great strenght in the black Diaspora and how we all share the common bond of our heritage, our cultures, regardless of how different our cultures are. The similarity is absolutely visual… and mostly how throughout time, history, space…we have remained the same…. Black & Beautiful.”
Karl Welch
Organisator of Soulbeach, Aruba/USA
On the My childhood series
“Vanessa Paulina, whose orange/brown hued painting of a crouching child, was requested by many. It was sold on opening night. As one visitor explained Paulina’s painting: It’s so beautiful, you’d expect the child to get up any moment and walk towards you”.
Margaret Wever
Journalist of Aruba newspaper The News
On the painting “Mucha Santo”, Sinfa Aruba expo 2002
“I just can’t stop staring at them: there is something about the moment captured in that painting that just draws me into it.”
Ann Brown
Director of operations Tierra del Sol Golf resort Aruba
On the painting “Past & Present” in the clubhouse art exhibit
“She’s every Aruban /Antillean woman. A new voice of Dutch Caribbean womanist art, demure and vibrant. Her work is a true reflection of a beautiful life, a quieter time. Yet it speaks to the trappings and shortcomings of that life, as a woman. Within the same frame you also see the aspirations and desires of a woman. I know her work, she is my grand-mother, aunt, sister, cousin. She is my friend.”
Richard Brooks
SinfAruba Art Gallery
“The painting which really attracted my attention, and which is my favorite is “Mucha Santo” by artist Vanessa Paulina. It was the most remarked on, and was sold on opening night!”
Juby Naar
Diario Aruba newspaper journalist
On painting “Mucha Santo” (Sand- or holy-child) SinfA expo 2002
” Dear beloved Iyawata Vanessa Paulina!
Well what should I say … your works made me wordless!
WOW … IHI`m overwhelmed! Your works a very great … more than enuff raspect for that! Keep up doing JAH works … for redemption is near, no fear.
It would be great, if we could hold contact in the future … for in the time we are living in JAH children have to Inity, seen?”
IHIMAHNHUWEHLH
writer of Itations of Jamaica and I
2024 Group Exhibition at Cas di Cultura Aruba regarding the private art collection from Alice van Romondt Santiago, that was part of her film documentary made by Rebecca Roos.
2024 Solo Exhibition and presentation of the painting of Virginia and illustrations of the book ‘Virginia e rebelde di Aruba’ at the University of Atuba.
2024 Solo Exhibition and presentationof the painting of Virginia and illustrations of the book ‘Virginia e rebelde di Aruba’ at the Biblioteca Nacional Aruba.
2023 Group Exhibition in Cartagena Colombia VIII Encuentro International Artistas Sucrea
2023 Invitation from Institute Ninssee a.o. from the Netherlands to be present at the excuses given by King Alexander from the Netherlands regarding their part in the history of slavery on the 1st of July 2023. Being the first artist who gave the Aruban slave Virginia Dementricia, Gaai a face and that has been busy with this topic and the Diaspora for decades.
2023 Fashion Show at Aruba’s Art Fashion titled; Unchained. Introducing my label ‘Virginia’s Rebels’
2023 Aruba Art Fair group Exhibition San Nicolas Aruba
2023 Group Exhibition where my painting of Virginia was shown at Fashion for Good Museum Amsterdam, Netherlands
2022/23 Group Exhibition at Maggy’s titled: Frida Kahlo, Oranjestad Aruba
2022 Group Exhibition titled: Green at Bibloteca Nacional, Oranjesatd, Aruba
2022 Exhibition Aruba Art fair, San Nicolas, Aruba
2019 Group Exhibition Aruba Art Fair 2019
2019 Group Exhibition House of Virginia project Scol di Arte.
2018 Group Exhibition at Aruba Art fair 2018
2018 Solo permanent Exhibition at The Bibloteca National Aruba (National Library) Titled; Vanessa and Friends, Oranjestad Aruba
2018 Group Exhibition at the Community Museum, San Nicolas Aruba.
2018 Exposure of Virginia in the book of Els Kloek Titled; 1001 Vrouwen in de 20ste eeuw, The Netherlands
2017 Group Exhibition at Historic Museum Titled; e Diosa, Oranjestad Aruba
2o16 Group exhibition at Willem III toren, Titled ‘Ofishi’ an expo about Historic weaving. Title of my art work; ‘Diosa’.
2016 Solo Exhibition at Fort Zoutman Title: Inner Goddesses
2015 Solo and permanent Exhibition at the museum of Tambu;’Shon Cola’ Curacao.
2014 Group Exhibition in Cuba during international cultural Art Expo, for Curacao.
2013 Solo Exhibition at the Historic Museum of Aruba theme: ‘Freedom to Choose’, 150 years abolition of Slavery. Exhibiting Virginia and the illustrations of the books:’Ik Neem Je Mee’ and ‘Aboikoni’ written by Hilli Arduin.
2013 Solo Exhibition at OBA in Amsterdam The Netherlands.Exhibiting the illustrations of the books:‘Ik Neem Je Mee’ and ‘Aboikoni’ written by Hilli Arduin.
2013 Solo Exhibition in Paramaribo Surinam. Exhibiting the illustrations of the books: ‘Ik Neem Je Mee’ and ‘Aboikoni’ written by Hilli Arduin.
2013 Solo Exhibition at KBF Children’s Book Festival in Paramaribo Surinam.Theme: Education.
2013 Solo Exhibition at KBF Children’s Book Festival in Commewijne Surinam. Theme:Animal rights.
2013 Solo Exhibition at KBF Children’s Book Festival in Atjoni/ Sipalliwini Surinam. Theme: Enviroment and Milieu.
2012 Group Exhibition held at ‘The Galery’ in Grenada, by 4Hr Nap Collective and Caribbean Art Project, Titled ‘WOMA’
Group Exhibition held at Fundashon Insight Paradera, Titled; ‘Rosea Nobo’,welcoming Aruba’s first ‘Bienalle’
2011 Solo Exhibition held at IPA, Oranjestad Aruba, ” The Language of the Eye”
2010 Solo Exhibition at Westin Hotel Gallery Aruba, Titled; ‘ The Language of the Eye’.
2010 Group Exhibition in Cuba during the’ Festival del Caribe’ featuring Curacao.
2010 Group Exhibition with the title of’ ‘ De Tekenkamer’ held at De Rekenkamer Wilhelminastraat in Oranjestad Aruba.
2010 Group Exhibition held in The Westin Hotel Gallery during the Art Auction for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti, Oranjestad Aruba.
2010 Participation in Street/ Store Exhibition in Rotterdam Noord, The Netherlands.
2009 Group Exhibition at Kas di Kultura Curacao N.A., Willemstad during the ‘Kulturisimo Festival’
2009 Solo Exhibition at World Trade Center Curarcao, Willemstad Curacao N.A.
2009 Solo Exhibition at Monumentenzorg Curacao, Willemstad Punda Curacao N.A.
2008/ 2009 December/ January, Solo Exhibition at ‘kas di Kultura Curacao’ with the ‘Interkambio Kultural’, (Cultural International Exchange) Vanessa Paulina is the first visual artist invited for this Cultural activity and also the first artist having an Exhibition in the brandnew Gallery of Kas di Kultura Curacao. the title of the Exhibition; ‘Tambu e Ritmo di Alma’ meaning; Tambu the rhythm of the soul ( tambu= drum)
2008 November Solo Exhibition ‘This is our Culture’, at ‘De Kom’ Hoogvliet, introducing the Dutch Antillean and Arubian Culture to the layman.
2008 October Solo Exhibition, open Studio at my place for a delegation of government Ministers from the Dutch Antilles organized by Rotterdam City Safari
2008 October Solo Exhibit at the ROC Hilversum during the miniconference held for a meeting between the Dutch Antilles, Aruba and the Netherlands amongst the delegation there was also the presence of his Excellency’s Frido Croes and Paul Comenencia
2008 July Solo Exhibit at theater Zuidplein Rotterdam the Netherlands, topic; ‘Upbringing something we do together’, a debate hosted by Mavis Albertina especially for Antillian mothers.
2008 Solo group Exhibit ‘Summer Exhibition Artist Up South’ ( Zomerexpositie op Zuid) CBK (Centrum Beeldende Kuns/ Center Contemporary Art) Rotterdam.
2008 Exhibit of “Virginia”at the Historic Museum of Aruba in Oranjestad Aruba. title of the exhibit; ‘Exposicion Herencia di
Sclavitud 2008’ februari/september
2008 Group Exhibit at museum Fort Zoutman Aruba during the ‘Exposicion Herencia di Sclavitud 2008’ februari/september
2008 Group Exhibit at the World Trade Center Rotterdam the Netherlands for Young EDBR. Jan/ september
2008 Group exhibit at Mar Azul Gallery, ‘local female artists’, Oranjestad Aruba
2007 Group exhibit Open Ateliers at Gallery Ruth Deekman, Kop van Zuid Lodewijk Pincoffsweg Rotterdam.
2007 Solo exhibit at the Hoge school van Rotterdam during a presentation of the book “Students of Excellence”, authors Shiara Vismale and Theo van Straaten, about students who came from the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba.
2007 Solo exhibit and reading of I&I and work during the “Each one teach one” at the Ninsee Institute in Amsterdam, National Institute of the slaveryhistory and it’s heritage.
2007 Solo exhibit inauguration “MusicalBridge” project Delfshaven, Rotterdam Holland.
2007 Group exhibit organised by the Urban arts group; ‘Creative Rotterdam’ at the Zwaanshals Rotterdam.
2006 Solo exhibit and action painting at the Chasse Theatre Breda, Holland.
2006 Group wallpainting with Eduard Von Lindheim, EvertRobles, Magumbo and Ras Elijah for Cariffiti, Rotterdam, Holland.
2006 Solo exhibit at the World Trade Center Rotterdam, during the Zakenfestival, Rotterdam, Holland.
2006 Group-exhibit Blockparty Piet Hein, Delfshaven, Rotterdam, Holland.
2006 Exhibit during the International Festival of Gamboa, Praia Santiago, Cape Verde.
2006 Solo exhibit at The Jungle, interior and gallery store, Oranjestad, Aruba.
2005 Cariffiti Group exhibit Centrum Beeldende Kunst Rotterdam World AIDS Day, Rotterdam, Holland.
2005 Exhibit at Mixtbaby lifestyle-store of artwork Kiss of Death
2005 Group exhibit of the artworks for Cariffiti done by various artists held by Urban Arts Gallery Rotterdam
2005 Paintings on display starting june at Acces Art Gallery, Oranjestad, Aruba.
2005 Solo exhibit in Tierra del Sol from april to june, Aruba.
2004 Participated in Kunst in Ahoy, Rotterdam’s biggest art fair.
2004 Solo exhibit at the Institute of Goree, Goree Isle Dakar, Senegal, presentation on Tunk Goree 2004.
2004 Group exhibit at Acces Art Gallery, Oranjestad, Aruba.
2003 Group exhibit “Ciudade Velha” (Old village) on the Isle of Santiago, Cape Verde.
2003 Solo exhibit at Acces Art Gallery, Oranjestad, Aruba.
2003 Group exhibit at Costa Linda Hotel, Oranjestad, Aruba.
2002 Group exhibit “Mama Aruba” at Sinfa gallery San Nicolas, Aruba.
2002 Solo exhibit at The Jungle, interior and gallery store, Dakota, Aruba.
2002 Group exhibit at Sinfa gallery, San Nicolas, Aruba.
2002 Solo exhibit at Tierra del Sol Resort and Country club, Aruba.
2000 Solo exhibit at the Appleton’s Mansion, Boise, Idaho, USA.
1999 Solo exhibit at The Jungle, interior and gallery store, Dakota, Aruba.
1999 Group exhibit “Santa Maria” festival on the Isle of Sal Cape Verde.
1999 Solo exhibit Sodade foundation, Cape Verdean cultural organisation, Rotterdam, Holland.
1998 Group exhibit at the Hyatt hotel, Oranjestad, Aruba.
1998 Solo exhibit at Gallery and souvenir store Roots in Oranjestad, Aruba.
1996 Solo exhibit in Sleazy, urbanwear and seventies/eighties fashion store.
Vanessa Paulina studied fashion and illustration at the Academy van Beeldende Kunsten now Willem de Kooning Art Academy in Rotterdam. Prior to that she studied at the Mode Academie in Eindhoven.
To support her artistic endeavours, she took classes in Caribbean History at Leiden University. Did a business course at Atlas in Rotterdam and took various courses at Kunstenaars en Co in Amsterdam; In the picture and Time management .
Besides her painting Vanessa works freelance as a stylist, designer and illustrator.
She also conducts workshops on Painting, fashion and Soul Art.
Welcome to my website! My name is Vanessa V.I. Paulina. I grew up in the Caribbean, especially on the ABC islands. Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao are all very dear to me. I spent most of my childhood growing up in Aruba. Because of my beautiful parents I am a descendant of the African/Indian heritage.
In 1986 I continued my studies in Europe, in the Netherlands. I live there most of the time, if I’m not travelling. The world is my playground. I need to discover the world and soak it all in. Thus finding inspiration to express myself through my work.
I always sign my work with my initials WIP. The W stands for the 2 V'S joined together. It also stands for “West Indies Productions”, which I use as a label in my fashion designs.
Have a good look, and I hope you will enjoy my work!
Nuff love to my beloved family. Mom, thank you for your purity, love and strenghth and dad, for your power, will and support. My soul fills with joy thinking of my lovely nieces; Quianna and Shawna, whom I often portray in my childhood series, and my handsome nephew Jeandre Paulina. They're growing up on Aruba, experiencing a totally different world than the one I knew. Love, peace and harmony to all the children of the Universe.
Jah Bless!
Vanessa Paulina