SANTIMANITAY

Santimanitay comes from the french sans humanité meaning without humanity or merciless. In our calypso ex tempo — built on improvisation and the one-upping of your opponent — Santimanitay is the mic drop. The term means that whatever wickedness you inflict on me, I will do worse. Above all it means to be ruthless.  

Santimanitay manifests my conflicted relationship with Trinidad & Tobago; praising the positive such as its natural beauty and unique language, whilst criticizing the condemnable such as its homophobia, misogyny, crime and corruption. Given these issues, it makes our country’s motto “Together we aspire, Together we achieve” not only painfully bloated, but incredibly ironic. 

Santimanitay comprises jewellery that celebrates, mourns and mocks my culture, borrowing from Carnival and Catholicism. The spectacle of Carnival is built on celebration and parody — and I have crafted my pieces to mirror that tradition. Trinidad is mostly Catholic due to colonisation, so, although I do not follow this faith, its grip is inescapable. My pieces convey these social issues through Catholic objects and symbolism, while critiquing this religion’s hypocrisy. With pieces that range from corrupting a Carnivalesque headpiece to tainting sacramental objects; letting truths seep through the symbols. 

My relationship with my country, Trinidad & Tobago, is a deep love that is battled by fear and resentment. Through Santimanitay, I illustrate the dance between the corrupt and the beautiful.