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.

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

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

: Pokomania. 2011. Acrylic on watercolour paper. 15″x22″. Private collection.

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

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

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

: untitled. Private collection.

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

: Rasta in New York. Private collection.

: 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

: Ghetto Youth. 1980. Private collection.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

: Soca-mad at Morgan’s Harbour. Oil on cotton, 33″x24″, 1985

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

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

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

: 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.

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

: 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.

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

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

: Streetrace winner. Acrylic on cotton, 15″ x 30″, 2011. Private collection.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

: Pocomania dancer. 1995.

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

: 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.

: 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.

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