Cultural 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. 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.

: 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 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.

: Ackee. Oil on cotton, 16″x20″, 1992. Private collection. The national dish of Jamaica, ackee and saltfish, combines elements of Africa (ackee originates in West Africa) with Europe (from where pickled fish was shipped to the colonies as a cheap and easy-to-preserve source of protein).

: Jamaican Schoolgirl. 9.5″x9″. Acrylic on masonite. 2011. 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.

: 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

: Jamaican Cultist. 1996. Private collection.

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

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

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

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

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

: Hardo and Pear. Oil on canvas, 16″x20″, 1989. “Hard dough” or Hardo bread, an all-time favourite, combined with avocado, known as “pear” in Jamaica. Collection PanAmerican Art Projects

: 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.

: 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.

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

: Mother. 1997, 14″x11″. Oil on cotton. 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.

: Jamaican still life with festival, fried fish and bammy. Oil on cotton, 16″ x 20″, 1991. Anyone who thinks of a trip to the beach thinks fried fish, accompanied by festival (a sweet dough, deep fried) or bammy (cassava bread).

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

: Portrait of a Jamaican Girl. 14″x11″. Oil on cotton. Private collection.

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

: 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.