Little Blue House In Gros Islet, was started by Sir Derek Walcott and completed by his son Peter last June.
Peter Walcott was still a young man taking free studies at the university where his famous father Derek Walcott had been a Professor of Poetry, when he sustained an injury that put paid to his dream of becoming an architect. Peter recalls: “I left Trinidad for Boston University when I was about 30, my heart set on a degree in architecture. Then I got this serious knee problem that required surgery. I had to skip several classes. Since my old man had a job at the university, his children were entitled to free tuition there.”
It was while recovering from surgery that Peter Walcott discovered what he was born to do. And clearly it was not, as he initially believed, to be an architect. “While I was recuperating, I painted,” he said. “You could say I made a positive thing out of something negative. Had it not been for that accident that required an operation and recuperation time, I might have been an architect and not the full-time painter I am today.”
It shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone that Peter Walcott was influenced by art from a very young age although it is fair to say that his appreciation of its visual forms, dwarfs that of the literary ones. He wasn’t shy in copping to this: “My father’s work influenced his children and I took up the artistic side, not so much of the literature.” He recalled, “As a young kid, Daddy was always into theatre and theatre-involved set design and lighting; a very artistic profession. From that young age, I was involved in helping building sets and painting huge backdrops. I was always involved in arts and painting at a young age so, naturally, I developed an art skill. I got an A+ in A-Levels when I was about sixteen, so I always used to draw.”
He was also influenced by his father’s close friends, many of whom “were artistic and poetic so the environment, influenced me a lot”. Monet and Gauguin, who both employed the impressionist style of painting, were also big influences. But conventional painters and artists didn’t monopolise this influence over Peter Walcott’s art.
“I got my technical and design influence from architecture too,” he revealed. “You know, scale, proportion, and lighting, all come from architecture. Architecture is very artistic if you’re good. So, I just transferred that into my art. Most architects are artistic, so it wasn’t a problem.” Peter Walcott recalled with a smile how his father was happy with his decision to take up painting full-time. Not unsurprising, given who he was, but most parents would have perhaps pushed their children into the presumed safer career path of architecture.
Peter shared with the STAR some of his fondest memories of Sir Derek: working as a director, directing his own plays; watching him work with actors, teach them about the importance of discipline and punctuality. A memory stopped him in his tracks. He threw back his head and laughed. “He was very stern on punctuality and discipline,” Peter shared. “I admired that about him, and the fact that he could relate to anybody.”
The painter spoke with obvious admiration about his legendary father, and working with him: “I had a lot of pride and respect for him, remembering him as a very kind guy with a great sense of humour. He loved making people laugh.” He paused for several seconds before continuing, his voice cracking: “It’s kinda sad talking about this.”
He went on to speak highly of our annual Nobel Laureate celebrations, which is not to say he didn’t have some reservations. “I like how it’s an example for the young people growing up; that no matter what environment you grow up in, if you work hard, you can still make it. My father came from a humble home and won the Nobel Prize. So don’t let the circumstances of your birth stand in the way of your success.”
He considered Nobel Laureate’s Month “a great festival and a good idea that provides young people with motivation to work and
achieve excellence. But I think you can achieve all that in a week or so.” He had this message for up-and-coming artists in Saint Lucia: “Any art is a tough life, like music, dancing, poetry even. You do it because you
love to do it. And it makes you happy. So, do what you want to do, and I suppose the money will come.” He also recommended a secondary job like teaching, in order to sustain themselves while pursuing their dream.
He made it clear that visual art is what he loves above all other forms. Notwithstanding his departed father’s fame, he said, “I’m not really into poetry. It’s very deep; they paint with words. That’s all it is. I paint with my hands.”
