It was artist Roberto Teekah’s exceptional skill that saw him captivating the judges and viewers episode after episode until he was selected as one of the ten winners of the Guyana Talent Search competition.
The E R Burrowes School of Art fourth-year student said when he decided to enter, he could not be sure how far he would get as he was unaware of the format of the competition. However, he is pleased that he went ahead and decided to give it a try. “…I’m incredibly happy that I rose to the challenge. I’m truly grateful for all the support I received from viewers, friends and family – it really made the journey so much more enjoyable,” the artist enthused.
When he learnt of the competition on Facebook back in February, Roberto worked on putting together a time-lapse video of him painting a portrait of Naomi Campbell. The artist explained that the audition videos were required to be 60 seconds. His time-lapse video, he pointed out, allowed him to showcase work which in actuality took an hour to complete. Of course, he could not spend an hour creating his pieces on the show as each contestant had only three minutes to showcase his/her talent. This was most challenging for him but the artist shared that it was his expertise in the skill that aided him in pulling it off.
“Performers were limited to about three minutes on stage and any artist will tell you that it’s nearly impossible to create a work of art in such a short time. For every minute of work you saw me do onstage, there were hours and even days [in some cases] of practice put into it. I explored lots of different mediums and techniques during my preparation for the show,” shared Roberto.
As far back as he could remember, he has always been drawing. One of his earliest memories was in primary school when one of his teachers commended him on a drawing he did and then called on him periodically to draw on the chalkboard. His peers also regularly asked for help with assignment posters and creating cover pages. He was also considered the designated artist whenever there were group assignments.
The 22-year-old shared that his alma mater, the Bishops’ High played a pivotal role in him taking art more seriously owing to the incredible programme and culture there.
“Being an artist means that I get to make an impact on those around me, my viewers and the public at large. I get to have an impact on society all while doing something that I love. Art is my therapy, my line of work, and my hobby all wrapped in one,” said Roberto.
The artist, who is still exploring various genres of art, noted that he does not limit himself to any medium or subject matter. Whether portraits, surreal or abstract work, he remains open to trying anything adding that he is not one to be put in a box.
He draws inspiration from many things including contemporary artists, musicians and performers, and mentioned Lady Gaga, Banksy, Duchamp and Basquiat.
The Guyana Talent Search show was not the first time Teekah competed. Usually, he would enter logo, costume and painting competitions. The most noteworthy of them was the Guyana Visual Arts Competition and Exhibition 2019, which he entered for a second time and won the Promise Award. This was one of his most memorable moments. He reminisced about being in the audience and hearing the speaker on stage talking about one of the Promise Award winners then quoting a line Roberto had used in his artist’s statement. Before his name was announced, he knew that he had won the award. “It was an honour,” said the artist.
The Guyana Talent Search was the first competition where the artist had to perform instead of just sending a painting. His work was certainly cut out for him as performing was new to him but he rose to the challenge.
“My favourite part [of the show] was how much of a new experience it was. Before, I [had] never thought of myself as a performer. I never imagined that I’d be able to go on to a stage alongside singers and dancers and perform so well. I was able to do that. I also found the behind the scenes aspect of the competition very fascinating; the camera work, the lighting…, “ Roberto said.
All of the art he did onstage was solely done there and not before the show. In a few episodes, during his performance, the artist sprayed a transparent substance that brought his artwork and all its colours to life. Asked how he pulled this off, Roberto laughed and said he would not let the cat out of the bag but added that it was a technique he learnt in his textile class.
Roberto works on commissioned pieces; some take hours, some a few days. While most of his work is done in acrylic, he also enjoys working with ink, graphite, watercolour, mixed media, fabric, dyes and beads. Some of this work, he said, could take weeks and even months. Most of the materials he uses such as canvases, acrylic paints and dyes he gets at local art supply stores.
When Roberto is not studying art or working on his commissioned pieces, he is thinking about a piece he wants to create.
At the moment, he is working on a collection for his graduation exhibition slated for mid next year. Someday he hopes to have his own solo exhibitions. “I have so many concepts that I would like to explore and an exhibition like that would be fulfilling. I would like to push the boundaries, especially in terms of local art. I would love to introduce more immersive art experiences, there really are no limits,” said the artist.
Roberto shared that he wishes to see local artists more supported through opportunities such as competitions and exhibitions where they can showcase their work and interact with other artists. He also pointed to international scholarships being available to budding artists who would then return to Guyana to broaden the horizons of art to fellow artists here.
The lack of support remains a disadvantage for Guyanese artists. He added that many people do not take artists seriously or respect their work which he finds ironic, especially because artists are the ones who design everything that we interact with, including the clothing we wear or the utensils we eat in. “Our world would not be the same without artists. We are innovators, the free-thinkers, the ones who poke and prod at reality, the ones who critique and question the world we live in,” the artist explained.
For Roberto, being an artist allows him to live life on a “different wave-length” where artists are passionate and expressive in a world where people tend to carry on lives that are “rigid and grey”. Being an artist allows him to see the world from another perspective while doing what he loves the most. It is an opportunity he never takes for granted.
“[In the future] I see myself as a well-established artist with qualifications to fit. I hope by then to have a few solo exhibitions and other achievements under my belt. I also hope to keep actively producing artwork and to never lose the flame that is burning in me right now. Hard work conquers all, and I plan to work hard,” vowed Teekah.
For a one-of-a-kind Roberto Teekah piece, the artist can be reached on Facebook at Rio de Roberto and Instagram @rio.de.roberto.
