03/12/2015
The word Carnival is derived from the Latin “Carne Levare” and translates into “Farewell to the Flesh”. Although rooted in Pagan belief, Catholics in Italy celebrated this pre-Lenten festival by holding Fancy Balls where they dressed in fancy costumes and wore masks. Trinidad is a deeply multi-cultured society and this is reflected in its Carnival.
While elements from Europe, India, Amerindian populations and Asia all shine through in Trinidadian Carnival, it is predominantly an African form of cultural expression and tradition. Whether it is a result of the African slave trade or it came indirectly out of Africa (ancient Egypt) through Greece, Rome, and eventually Western Europe, the African presence is highly prominent. Via Italy, the celebration spread to other nations in Europe such as Spain and France.
The French arrived in Trinidad during the 18th century, which was a time of colonialism and slavery. It was predominantly the European Elite who held the Carnival celebrations in Trinidad from 1783 to 1838. Strict law banned Africans, slaves, and persons of mixed race, from participating in street festivities. However, after Emancipation in 1838, slaves took the celebration to the streets. Costumes carry historical and cultural significance and stir echoes of the nation’s history, folklore and heritage.
Masqueraders also carry with them attributes of rituals as well as the designer’s own creative personal touch, sometimes incorporating elements of fantasy. The Traditional Carnival characters of Trinidad such as the Blue devils, Moko Jumbies (stilt walkers), Jab Jabs, Fancy Indians, Sailors, Dames Lorraines and more seem to be fading year after year.
When first witnessing the celebration, I found it to be similar to a live Broadway Show on the streets, or a form of street theatre. As they masqueraded through the streets, I felt driven to capture them in the cathartic frenzy that is Trinidad Carnival. In doing so, I learned a lot about my heritage and culture. I grew up in four continents, living in diverse places for significant periods of time. These places include Borneo and Jakarta in Indonesia, Paris, Argentina, Texas, Canada and more. I did live in Trinidad for a short while when I was very young, but didn’t at that time partake in mas fully, so doing this whole project was a form of self-discovery and discovery of my parents’ heritage that I was never around to be a part of and never fully understood until now.
The vibe of the celebration is powerful and resilient. The human energy and spirit just seem to seep into one’s pores and are extremely infectious. These aspects of the Carnival will send the most docile of beings into a cathartic frenzy. Carnival is deeply ingrained in the heart and soul of the culture, and mirrors the national identity. Some costumes can take an entire year to create and are usually made at “Mas camps”. (“Mas” is an abbreviation for Masquerade).
Trinidad is one of the many nations in the world that celebrate Carnival, and it is referred to internationally as “ The Greatest Show on Earth” and rightfully so. Two days mark the culmination of a year’s work of design, organization and preparation. Costumes incorporate wire, face paint, steel, mud, beads, paper-mache, fabric, glitter, masks, feathers, long stilts, engineering techniques and more. Size and elaboration of costumes are not factors in preventing masqueraders from jumping, masquerading and dancing their hearts out to Calypso, Soca and Rapso music.
Carnival is color, revelry, loosening of inhibitions, re-enactment of past history and more. Many nations and societies celebrate Carnival in one form or another ranging from Brazil’s Carnival, to the Egungun celebration in Nigeria, to New Orleans’s Mardi Gras and many more. Carnival goes into full gear starting with J’ouvert (meaning opening of the day), in the early hours of Monday morning from about 4:30 a.m. with a darker atmosphere. This has a more raw and stripped down vibe to it with many elements of folklore characters, while people pour mud, oil and paint on each other.
This flows into Carnival Monday when revelers take to the streets with vivid color. Thousands jump and dance to music provided by steel pan groups, live bands, dj’s on trucks, and drumming of various styles. Carnival Tuesday is when everyone is in full costume and each Carnival band eventually crosses the stage at the Grand Savannah in the capital of Port of Spain.
These photographs are dedicated to the People of Trinidad and Tobago and Carnival lovers worldwide.
Ray Traboulay’s Cultural Portraits of Trinidad Carnival were used at the Caribbean T20 Tournament 2013 which was the commemoration of the launch of it’s partnership with the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago as well as exclusive art decor at the N.C.C. (National Carnival Commission of Trinidad and Tobago) media launch of Carnival celebration in 2013.
Select photographs were also present at The Royal Ontario Museum as part of Carnival designer Brian Macfarlane's exhibition entitled “CARNIVAL: From Emancipation to Celebration”.
"Ray Traboulay is a remarkably talented and accomplished photographer. He is also a fine human being. He was featured in a documentary film I produced titled 'Where is Home'. The following 3 years he explored and photographed the Trinidad Carnival Masqueraders, creating a stunningly powerful book of images entitled 'Farewell to the Flesh'.
Born in Brazil, then he moved all over with his family to Argentina, Trinidad, France, Borneo, Jakarta, Texas and California, before landing in Canada. While In Canada, he pursued his studies in photography at Ryerson University. Shooting 'Farewell To The Flesh' led him to a sense of true self-discovery and peace.
Ray is an accomplished designer; a dedicated, energetic and superb photographer; and a pleasure to work with overall."
- Two-time, Emmy Award winning film producer-director, Paul Saltzman.
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