The Power of Culture

Cozier's work is characterised by his strong engagement with the post-colonial Caribbean. "Trinidad has always been a society of migrants.Numerous Amer-indian tribes were here before Columbus. Although the world has a pre-modern image of our region, modernism was born here: international relations, trade, et cetera. The cities were designed as tropical spaces and the inhabitants were not always included in the script: initially they were slaves, later colonial subjects and now citizens."

His Cross Currents (2001) display portrays two of these characters. In a triangle on the floor, numerous flags wave from blocks of wood with prints of the runaway slave and the briefcase man. The slaves are running in every direction; the men unanimously head in the same direction. Drawing has a special meaning for this versatile artist. "For me, drawing is a kind of speculation, potential. My sketchpads have become my studio because I travel so much. When a curator suggested making an exposition with them, it was extremely confusing. My private thoughts took on a public life."

In addition to his visual art, Cozier is  one of the editorial collective of the critical Caribbean journal Small Axe, which strives to give culture-political hope a new face. Cozier is also affiliated with the University of Trinidad and Tobago. His task there is to write a text titled Looking back. The key question is: "What is the value of my perception?" It will be an analysis of the works of his elder island co-inhabitants, with a contemporary global view but also with an eye on the past.