Cultural and spiritual themes

Jonkunnu Dancers. 11″x9″. Acrylic on cotton. 2015

Schliefer’s work depicts Jamaican cultural practices in his uniquely dynamic way. The movement of the dancers is the focus of his paintings of Jonkunnu masqueraders and carnival dancers, and his images of revivalist and pocomania rituals alongside powerful images of Christ. The energy of his subjects is equally central in his depictions of boys racing each other in the street or raiding mango trees, and even pervades his portraits. Paintings of ackee, hardo bread, fish and festival, constitute a loving tribute to Jamaica’s culinary traditions.

: Jamaican Revival Dance. Inspired by the movement of the dance. Oil on canvas, 1976. Private collection.

: Jonkunnu #4. 12″x9″, acrylic on paper, 2011. Schliefer captures the joy and sparkle of the dance like no other.

: The book lesson. Oil on canvas, 1996. Private collection.

: Bop Performance. Too few images have been preserved of Schliefer’s work from the mid 1980s to the mid 1990s. This is one of the few images which shows off his very personal and adept treatment of dance. Oil on cotton, 24″ x 22″, 1993. Private collection.

: Dinki minni dancers. Oil on cotton, 14″ x 11″. 1997. Private collection.

: Ghetto Youth. 1980. Private collection.

: Ska Dancer. 2011. Acrylic on watercolour paper. c.12″x9″. Private collection.

: Revival Spirit – Tribute to Malicca “Kapo” Reynolds. Acrylic on cotton, 48″x48″, 2021. Artist’s collection.

: Revival Time. 1998. 14″x9″. Oil on linen. Private collection. This work depicts the characteristic wheeling dance of Revivalism, a distinctly Jamaican religion incorporating both Christian and African influences.

: Jonkunnu Piper. 1996. 36″x30″. Oil on linen. Private collection. The piper and his instrument are hidden within the colourful tangle of dancers.

: “In the spirit” depicts the entrancing dance of the Pocomania ceremony. (Private collection)

: Streetrace Winner. 15″X30″. Acrylic on cotton. 2011. Private collection.

: Mango Tree Dare-devils. 38″ x 27″. Acrylic on linen. 2010. Available.

: Sisters Eating Fruit. 2005. Acrylic on cotton, 16″ x 20″. Private collection.

: Guru dancer. Acrylic on watercolour paper, 2011. Private collection.

: Brukkins Dancer. 2010. Acrylic on paper. c12″x9″. Private collection. Brukkins – one of several traditional dances which have survived in but few communities in Jamaica.

: Ultimate love. Oil on cotton, 14″ x 11″, 2000. Private collection.

: Pocomania dancer. 1995.

: Rasta in New York. Private collection.

: Mango Reapers. 2010. Acrylic on cotton. Private collection.

: Poco Duppy with kitchen bitch riders. Oil on cotton, 12″ x 31″, 2002. Private collection.

: In de Spirit (Revivalist). Acrylic on calico cotton, 36″x43″, 2020. Artist’s collection.

: Jonkunnu figure. Acrylic on watercolor paper, 12″ x 9″, 2013. Private collection.

: Revival Spirit. Oil on cotton. 30″ x 24″, 1989. Bill Clinton Collection.

: DJ Rappin’. 1992, oil on cotton, 33″ x 22″, Private collection. “DJ music” has become the dominant form of reggae – dancehall music in Jamaica. This painting, with its dominant elements of “bling” and a mouth rapping continuously, was inspired by the iconic artiste Shabba Ranks.

: Supplication #2. Acrylic on cotton, 33″ x 24″, 2013. In the artist’s collection.

: Carnival Dancer. 1992, Oil on cotton, 33″ x 24″. Artist’s collection.

: Dinky Minny dancer. Acrylic on cotton, 14″ x 11″, 2013. Private collection.

: Evening standpipe. Oil on linen, 22″ x 18″, 2002. Private collection.

: Family meals. Acrylic on canvas, 10″ x 9″, 2013. Private collection.

: Jonkunnu Dancer. 1986, oil on cotton, 50″x60″. Artist’s collection. Schliefer shows off his ability to create abstract figurations – here of the Jonkunnu Horse-head character, depicted in blazing, twirling colours.

: Jonkunnu Dancers. 1999-2000, Oil on Cotton, 11″ x 14″. Private collection. Central in this work is the character of the Horse-head, surrounded by other traditional characters of the Jonkunnu band.

: Pocomania dancers with kitchen bitch. Private collection.

: Festival Dancer. 12″x9″, acrylic and watercolour on paper, 2011. One in a delightful series of dancers.

: Jonkunnu Dancer. 2011. Acrylic on watercolour paper. c.11″x9″. Private collection.

: Maquerade dance 1. Acrylic canvas, 9″ x 11″, 2013. Private collection.

: Pocomania dancer. Oil on cotton, 12″ x 8″, 1994. Private collection.

: Dawg a la Beach. Oil on canvas, appr. 24″ x 33″, 1986. Private collection.

: The timeless hand. Oil on cotton, 12″ x 20″, 2002. Private collection.

: Jonkunnu #4. 2011. Acrylic on watercolour paper. c12″x9″. Private collection.

: Dancehall dancer. Acrylic on watercolor paper, 12″ x 9″, 2011. Private collection.

: Bible student in polka dots. Acrylic on linen, 22″ x 24″, 2009. Not available.

: Brukins dancer. Acrylic on watercolor paper, 12″ x 9″, 2011-2013. Private collection.

: Masquerade dance 2. Acrylic on canvas. 9″ x 11″, 2013. Private collection.

: Jonkunnu Horsehead. 2011. Acrylic on watercolour paper. c.9″x11″. Private collection.

: Fishing village surfers. Acrylic on cotton, 11″ x 13″, 2013. Private collection.

: Kapo visits. 2011. Acrylic on watercolour paper. c.12″x9″. Private collection. This work conjurs up the spirit of the visionary artist Malica “Kapo” Reynolds.

: Jamaican Rastafarian Cultist. Oil on cotton, 16″ x 20″, 1976. Private collection.

: Street Race. 1996, Oil on linen, 52″ x 56″. Artist’s collection. Testimony to Schliefer’s superb ability to depict motion and energy.

: Jonkunnu #3. 11″x9″, acrylic on paper, 2011. This painting seems to capture the essence of the Jonkunnu masquerader as a slightly threatening mysterious figure.

: Revival time. Oil on cotton, 33″ x 36″, 1984. Private collection.

: National Sage 2. Acrylic on cotton, 30″x20″, 2020. Artist’s collection.

: Jonkunnu #1. 2011. Acrylic on watercolour paper. c12″x9″. Private collection. This ambiguous character, beautiful and terrifying at the same time, captures the essence of the traditional pre-Christmas Jonkunnu masquerade. Schliefer well recalls how the Jonkunnu performers of his childhood in rural Jamaica would chase the children and mock-coerce the adults into donations of rum and food.