Your AGA is pleased to present the work of Curtis Talwst Santiago in Curtis Talwst Santiago: Liming from October 24, 2020 – February 21, 2021 in the RBC New Works Gallery. The artist has provided this video as a digital accompaniment to the exhibition.
Prelude: Sir Dingolay, 2019
In this video we see Sir Dingolay, the artist’s alter ego, discovering the J’Ouvert temple which acts as a portal to the ancestors. This temple was an installation created by Santiago for the Toronto Biennial in 2019. The character is based on a Black Knight that the artist saw in a historical painting in Portugal. This historical knight was a member of the order of Santiago of the Red Cross and he rose to his position from that of court jester. Sir Dingolay wears a beaded suit of armour that Santiago created using beading techniques from South Africa. His painted face references the practice of painting faces with red clay during Carnival in Trinidad. For Santiago, the red paint symbolises the quest for connection with one’s family and one’s ancestors.
Dingolay is Trinidadian slang for freeing one’s body, freeing one’s self and letting loose.
This is the first chapter in what the artist plans to be a series of several video works.
Video courtesy of the Artist
Director: Justin Tyler Close
Creative Producer: Jessica Law
1st AC: Adrian Muir
Gaffer: Ed Kopp
DIT: James Arthurs
Editor: Jeff Watterson
Colourist: Sam Gilling
Music: Mighty Sparrow
Production Assistant: Matt Torrado M
Production Assistant: JJ Bottineau