British sculptor Colin Figue is one of seven International Sculptors selected to make monumental stone sculptures for the Belize Sculpture Symposium 2011 to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Belizean Independence. The symposium will focus on the theme of independence to explore the role of young Belizean people, responsible for the ‘new Belize’. Young Belizean artists will be encouraged to work alongside professional international artists, including Jock Hildebrand, Canan Somnezdag, Roland Meyer, Petre Petrov and Florin Strejac in order to facilitate exposure to cross-cultural sculptural themes and techniques, and encourage the development of a Belizean ‘sculptural identity’.
This will be an intense and challenging experience within a unique working environment. With only twenty days in which to complete their sculptures, each artist, with one assistant, will need to know how to pace their work in an atmosphere of intense public interest and media attention and a demanding social agenda. This will be Figue’s second public commission in Central America. Inspired by the savage beauty and empowered dynamics of Pre Columbian sculpture and architecture, he hopes his work “will express both the theme of liberation and independence, his personal quest for the same and in some subtle way, the mysterious inheritance of ancient cultural orders and their contemporary relevance.”
The Belize Sculpture Symposium 2011 is organized by the National Institute of Culture and History (NICH), in partnership with Jock Hildebrand Arts Portal Inc., as part of the 30th Anniversary of Belizean Independence, granted on September 21st, 1981. NICH was created by the government of Belize in 2003 to bring together diverse government departments, which had historically worked to preserve and promote Belizean culture. Objectives of NICH include fostering cross-cultural understanding and mutual respect, ensuring participation of civil society in the making of policies and programs, ensuring participation of youth, as well as conduct international relations and exchanges.
Image: Colin Figue. Reclining Figure, 2008. Turkish marble ,150 x 340 x 100cms.
AAJ Press 
Hey, no comments, what’s this? Belize, formally British Honduras. What a great place to make a sculpture.
Posted by colin figue | October 2, 2011, 6:40 pmThe symposium has been the greatest experience for me to be able to learn and to learn from the best .
Belize Sculpture Symposium, 2011,it was a great gift where I got to know and to build a new friendship for life with Canan Somnezdag, Colin Figue, Florin Strejac, Jock Hildebrand, Petre Petrov, Roland Meyer and Caroline. They left behind the most beautiful carvings. Thank you so much for sharing your time and efforts with Belize, its’ youths and adults. Your techniques are and is still greatly appreciated .
Wish you all the very best.
Sincerely Jackie Woods
Posted by jacqueline woods | March 26, 2013, 4:43 pm