Roddney Tjon Poen Gie was originally trained in the art of painting but he is also well known for his work as a sculptor. He produces a variety of sculptures amongst which small ceramic sculptures and beautifully detailed wooden sculptures. Because of its original shape and structure, the artist has also started experimenting with the so called “art trouvé” or pieces of driftwood which he attaches to wooden pedestals and sometimes works on with saw and drill but almost always paints. In painting these creations he uses beautiful contrasting colors and lines depending on perception or subject of observation. Lines are important to the artist and are characteristic in his painted creations, sculptures and paintings both. In his paintings Roddney Tjon Poen Gie is well known for using his own visual language which is based upon the letter symbols of his ancestors. He draws the characters and symbols three-dimensionally and thus produces a playful abstraction of Chinese letters and Afro Surinamese Afaka symbols in his artwork.  Since 1995,  in the Surinamese visual art industry a stream of artists has been recognised who intensively search for their roots and the multi-cultural heritage of the people of this unique country. Each artist expresses this in his own way.  Roddney Tjon Poen Gi is the only one to express his roots in the abstract; in the letter writings and characters of his ancestors. With his work he tries to contribute to the cooperation amongst and integration of the different ethnic groups in Suriname. It is also the artists aim, to experiment in the cooperation and integration of all different techniques in which he experiments in order to come to the creation unique and multi-faceted art.  

 

Working experience:
Employed by het Directoraat Cultuur – Coördinator State collection
- Autodidact in sculpting of wood since 1995
- Project: art for the elderly - Surifesta activity
- Project: poster design for the handicapped – Surifesta activity
- Project: Federation of Visual Artists in Suriname in Coronie in 2004
- 2009 Artist in Residence at Vermont Studio Center, USA
- 2009 Artist in Residence at Duende, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Exhibitions:
2012 Heritage Festival, Ft.Nw. Amsterdam, Commewijne, Suriname
2012 Revealing our stored treasures, RAG in De Hal, Paramaribo, Suriname
2011 National Art Fair, Paramaribo, Suriname
2011 l' Encadrier Galerie, Cayenne, French Guyana
2011 About Change Art Program, World Bank, Washington DC, USA
2011 De verleiding van Coronie, The Hague, the Netherlands
2010 Vredig, Vrij en Vriendelijk, De Hal, Paramaribo, Suriname
2010 Biennale du Marronage, Matoury, French Guyana
2010 Colourful Friendship, Barbados
2010 National Art Fair (NK ’10), Paramaribo, Suriname
2010 Kunst is Kracht, Readytex Art Gallery, De Hal, Paramaribo, Suriname
2010 Paramaribo SPAN, DSB Bank, Paramaribo, Suriname
2009 National Art Fair (NK’09), Paramaribo, Suriname
2009 CBK en Duende, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
2008 NK'08, National Art Fair, Suriname
2008 Out of the Ocean, Readytex Art Gallery, Suriname
2007 Synergy, IVCC and Readytex Art Gallery,