Popular icon status: it's been achieved by very few figures in the Caribbean, and none with as pronounced an effect as Bob Marley. He was a reggae artist, a revolutionary, a Rasta man, Rita's man, a soul rebel, a soccer man, a showman, and a shaman. But more than all this, Bob Marley was human, and that essential essence is what 15 Belizean artists have tried to capture in a new show that celebrates the reggae legend's birth date on February 6th. The House of Culture is the venue and we found a potent mix of Marley portraits and Rastafarianism exhibition. Artists David Anderson and Chris Emmanuel told us about the many moods of Marley.
David Anderson, Artist
"Bob Marley in my eyes, in this fashion, is just asking 'could there be no more trouble in the world?' See what I mean, he is just longing for peace. Bob Marley is just a universal individual with the soul of a prophet so that's what truly inspired me to do this painting. He has a lot of intricate and indelible qualities that I find within myself. Bob Marley portrayed in this fashion is actually representing the emotions and feelings of those that are fed up and discontented with the present situation in the world, no more trouble in the world."
Chris Emmanuel, Artist
"I painted Bob Marley in a very natural setting because he comes from a roots culture that was born from an African nation that has disseminated across the West Indies and represents the idea that everyone deserves a right to be free and happy.
The roots is a celebration of life, the look on his face is of euphoria and a feeling of freedom and that is what every human being seeks, the freedom to be who they are. The Bob Marley in that picture represents me 'cause everything I paint still comes through me and can always have a piece of me in it. So that Bob Marley represents the idea that I am proud to be who I am."
The exhibition runs through to February 28th at the House of Culture.
7NEWS produced for broadcast by News Director Jules Vasquez
Edited for the internet by Keith Swift
