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Awards of Excellence: Che Lovelace Receives Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters from the French Government
Renowned Trinidanian artist Che Lovelace has been awarded the prestigious Chevalier de L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) by the French government. This honor recognizes Lovelace’s exceptional contributions to the arts and his pivotal role in bringing Caribbean visual expression to the global forefront.
The award was formally conferred during a ceremony at St Clair, which was attended by members of the Diplomatic Corps, prominent figures from the local arts and culture community, and Lovelace’s family and close friends.
Background and Inspiration
Lovelace, the son of prolific writer Earl Lovelace, was born in San Fernando and grew up in the east coast village of Matoura. He attended Queen’s Royal College, Port of Spain, and received his fine art training at l’École Réionale des Beaux-Arts de la Martinique.
- Lovelace said the beauty of our world lies in our differences. But those differences do not divide us—they enrich us.
- “Whether in France, Martinique, or Trinidad, we are all engaged in the same pursuit: to carry humanity forward, to build something greater than ourselves, to move toward a more evolved, human, and connected world,” he said.
A Personal Journey of Transformation
Lovelace spoke about his time in Martinique, an overseas territorial collectivity of France, where he studied art.
“I had arrived, excited and proud to have been accepted into a French art school, believing that my high school French from QRC would carry me through. It did not,” he quipped.
“But as the months passed, and I slowly added sentences and expressions to my vocabulary, I knew I was on the verge of a profound journey—one that would shape the person and artist I am today,” he said.
Reflections on Art and Humanity
Lovelace said Martinique was more than a place where he studied art; it became a place of transformation. “I was shaped by the colors, the rhythms, and the spirit of a people whose history and resilience mirrored my own,” he said.
“It was there, among the winding streets of Fort-de-France, the sound of Créole voices, and the ever-present sea, that I deepened my understanding of art as a living, breathing force—one that connects us beyond borders,” he said.
French Ambassador Didier Chabert, who presented the award, said Lovelace was chosen for his contribution to the arts, Franco-Caribbean exchange, and broader artistic dialogue.
“France believes culture is not only a reflection of society but a force that shapes it,” he said.
“And in that spirit, Che, you are more than an artist. You are a partner in the ongoing conversation between our countries, a conversation carried through color, image, and creativity,” he said.
Amassador Chabert quoted his father’s phrase from his novel The Dragon Can’t Dance: “The quote reads, ‘All his life he had managed to disconnect himself from things which he couldn’t escape and which threatened to define him in a way in which he didn’t want to be defined, and go on untouched, untouched by things that should have touched him, hurt him, burned him’,” he said.
| Key Takeaways | Summary of the Ceremony |
|---|---|
| • The Chevalier de L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres is a prestigious honor conferred by the French government. | •
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