LIGHTHOUSE POINT – The Doreen Gauthier Library, 2200 NE 38th Street, in Lighthouse Point will host a one-man art show, exhibiting the works of Sirju Seeharack Mohan, during the month of May. Mr. Mohan is a native of Trinidad, currently residing in Pompano Beach. The art opening is scheduled for Thursday, May 5, 2011 from 5:00 PM to 8 PM.
Attending the public reception will be Lamar Fisher, Mayor of Pompano Beach; Charlotte Burrie, Pompano Beach District 2 City Commissioner; Dr. Anil Ramnanan, Consul General of Trinidad and Tobago; and Kamal Abdool, President of Trinidad and Tobago Diaspora.
Sirju Seeharack Mohan
This will be Mr. Mohan’s first solo exhibit in the United States. He will display at least fifty oil paintings, pastels, watercolors, pencil and pen and ink drawings, sculptures, and calligraphy. Several examples of portraiture will be included. All works will be available for purchase. The average size of his work is 16 inches by 20 inches; he will show pieces as large as 2 feet by 3 feet. He favors a mixed color palette, with an open and free style, to create realistic images of the human form, landscapes, and seascapes. He is experimenting with abstract art, noting that, “There is a huge market for the abstract here in the U. S.”
Sirju Mohan working on one of his masterpieces.
Mr. Mohan was born in San Fernando, Trinidad, West Indies, and attended St. John’s EC School, a primary education institution where he was chosen the best art student enrolled. His childhood art works were always joyful, and his extremely neat handwriting led him to master calligraphy. He then graduated from the San Fernando Technical Institute, where his art expanded and took on new dimension. He used house paint on hardboard, and depicted scenes from his own life. His focus soon became the composition of objects, the history of architecture, and the tropical landscapes of the Caribbean. He furthered his studies at the University of the West Indies and the University of London; he mastered calligraphy in Milan, Italy. Most recently, Mr. Mohan received high honors from the Stratford Career Institute for his extensive use of all mediums in art, and he earned a certificate calligraphy and stone sculpture through the Boca Raton community schools. His favorite medium remains oil paint.
In his homeland, Mr. Mohan has participated in four art exhibitions, including one at the Trinidad National Museum. He credits Ralph Baney, his mentor and former education art officer of Trinidad and Tobago, with encouraging his love for art. Although art is his lifelong passion, Mr. Mohan made his livelihood by working as a footwear designer for the manufacturer, Bata Shoe Company. When the company closed their Trinidad facility in 1988, Mr. Mohan emigrated from his native country to Florida.
The unique, multi-ethnic and multi-cultural mix of Trinidad and Tobago combines the artistic expressions of Africa, Europe, India, China, and the Middle East with a strong independent religious, cultural, social, and environmental awareness that springs from the nation itself. The life and international travel experiences of Sirju Mohan are blended and reflected in his diverse art works. He looks forward to meeting locals and visitors alike on May 5th.
Sample of Mohan’s Work
