Daily Inspiration: Meet Ricardo Jattan

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ricardo Jattan.

Hi Ricardo, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Trinidad, West Indies, and migrated to Toronto, Canada at the age of five. For as far back as I can remember, art has always been at the forefront and I found so many ways to incorporate it into my life. It was a way to express myself – bringing thought to live, and transferring my visions into pieces of creative works. By 18, I began my modeling career, soon becoming one of Canada’s top.

I have traveled the world but had always stayed grounded in Toronto. There, my passion for building and designing started modestly, and the ideas for creating really began. I founded a business in set design with my childhood friend in my parent’s garage and had the vision to see it grow. While I continued to model, I ran this business and surrounded myself with mentors, who guided me along the way.

Although it has been many years, it still exists today. My worldly experiences have opened my eyes even more to the love of creation, whether it be through a piece that is easily recognizable, or an abstract, which leaves its interpretation to the eyes of the beholder. Moving to the United States has allowed me to continue on my path of design where I began by assisting some of the most talented production designers.

Over the years, I continued to grow and establish a foundation, eventually branching out to becoming and assuming the title of Production Designer. While forging my career, I continued to create in my spare time, and I found that many of my pieces fit into numerous categories within the art world.

I have always had the desire and the ability to envision and construct images in my mind, which I then translated into pieces.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Although I was young when I came to Canada – there were still the challenges of adjusting to a new life in a new country and I faced them head-on. While life had its many challenges, this did not deter me from achieving my goals.

After signing with Ford NY, I received an E16 green card to work in the United States. I decided to move to the United States. This again was another challenge and adjustment to the unknown, and I would embrace change and this new adventure. In my line of work, there is the continuous challenge to increase my value, through my train of thought and delivery.

Adjusting once again to a new country and now a new career, there were also newfound responsibilities from the overall design and construction of a set, budgets, deadlines, crew, and finally the end result. Collaboration is the key, to any successful outcome, and I endeavored to make every situation work regardless of logistics.

After reading a script, there is working with the director, research, and inspiration to bring a story to life.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
After more than 30 years in the business, I still love what I do, designing is in my blood, and truly defines who I am, and at this stage in my life, I continue to cultivate my many talents and take great pride in what I do.

My education, talents, and experiences have taken me to movie sets, television work, and book styling, but I would have to say that also having tenacity and inquisitiveness, has now taken me on the path of self-reflection and expression through my art.

My art is an expression of self; each piece that I bring to life tells a story whether it be of pain, happiness, or a moment in time. They are memories deep within the subconscious that surface and have become a way to express me and explore memories through materials and techniques.

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
It has been an awful few years for the industry with the pandemic and works lifestyle. Leading corporations are now coming up with ways to accommodate change.

The industry itself is very competitive, and with each new year, a new generation enters the workforce. The impact has been severe and recovery slow. This does leave one to reassess taking a pastime and making it available for everyone to share. I now want to take my artwork to the next level, to have others see and share my work.

I know that the splendor of so many of my pieces leaves room for interpretation and that its content is far from the obvious. What will this and future years to come look like in the art industry?

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://2019.ricardojattan.com/

Image Credits
Ricardo Jattan and Jackie Prophit