"My art is about experiences from the past. It deals with the demise of the N’dyuka culture in Surinam caused by war and economic strife. In my work I project that situation, paying attention to the protection of cultures in general."
Marcel Pinas describes the cultural awareness from his past ’Kibri a kulturu’ (preserve the culture): ’My art is about experiences from the past. It deals with the destruction of the N’dyuka culture in Surinam caused by war. In my work I project that situation, paying attention to the protection of cultures in general’.
In addition to the preservation of his own past, Pinas uses colors and symbols that are a direct reference to the N’dyuka culture. These symbols taken from the Afaka syllabary (a syllabary of 56 letters devised from the N’dyuka language). Combined with everyday objects from his culture as carvings, plaid fabrics or textiles and totems they form the basis of his artworks.
Pinas believes that art is a part of every culture, and every level of society. It nurtures the community. With his paintings, sculptures and his big multimedia installations in public spaces Pinas tries to connect people and build towards a community with a critical, but also positive perspective for the future.