Photo Hugh Ardoin
Wrapped in flimsy pieces of cloth, blackened by molasses A beautiful arsonist struts on Chepstow setting hearts on fire Carefree smile on her lips, leaving ashes and ruins in her wake Step aside or be burnt is the devils apprentice’s favorite game Photo Hugh Ardoin The Notting Hill 2019 Carnival Gallery
The trending Asterix or Viking helmets to impersonate the Jab The history of masquerade is about the representation of Satan Jab is a creole phonetic version of the French ‘Diable’ (Devil) As opposed to Christian religion at the centre of carnivals Masquerades were celebration of emancipated slaves Disguised with horns, chains and molasses like devils […]
In the all grey streets of the Bund on monsoon days The balloon man with his portable rainbow Splashes colors around in a Hockney manner Art walks in the streets looking for adventure A dream for a penny is a long distance flight Photo Hugh Ardoin The Galleries
Motto self-advertising himself along Chepstow A young beauty on his side to enhance the image Shadows and light design her odalisque contours The unbearable delight of a midsummer dream Photo Hugh Ardoin The Notting Hill 2019 Carnival Gallery
Last minute shopping before dark The golden hour is in the purple blue phase Tropical night will suddenly drop like a curtain Birds will go silent as the frogs pick-up the music The unnerving hum of hungry mosquito hordes Photo Hugh Ardoin Niamey Dusk and Dust Gallery
Years ago in the land of plenty A pastor by the name of Martin Wanted to make a peaceful revolution It was his dream of a bloodless coup Crosses were burnt and innocent blood spilled Martin is dead and fifty years later little has changed A hefty price to pay, but the interest is still […]
Like painted amazones on the warpath One running on high and the other on empty Young black beauties vent out a year of stress Scene from a Bosch triptych with Kabuki masks Photo Hugh Ardoin The Notting Hill 2019 Carnival Gallery
Stalls crumbling under an avalanche of fruit and greens The Garden of Eden’s open gates and a wireless social network Seen from the Western colonial pedestal, Africa was the beggar in rags Now they enjoy the freedom and the food that Europeans queue for Imagine Southbound boatloads of asylum-seekers crossing the Mediterranean As The Book […]
The fast falling Sun lengthens the shadows Caricature shaped cutouts following the parade Each successive wave stepping over the preceding Paint splashed and smiling, the troop moves forward Photo Hugh Ardoin The Notting Hill 2019 Carnival Gallery
Cute young white girls offer large smiles Lager in hand walking into the sunset A general feeling of happiness is in the air As if the boulevard would spill into the sun Changing the crowd into ethereal golden sun rays Photo Hugh Ardoin The Notting Hill 2019 Carnival Gallery