Private collection
Bucco
A boy kneels on a beach between two homes.
Narrative
Inspired by the coastline of Bucco, Tobago, the painting reflects on memory, belonging, and the places that continue to shape us long after we leave them behind. At its center is the artist's son, portrayed within a landscape deeply connected to family history, personal refuge, and a sense of home that transcends geography.
The scene brings together elements that could never exist simultaneously in reality. The family dog appears beside him, despite never having set foot on the island. The beach belongs to Tobago. The companionship belongs to another chapter of life. Within memory, distance collapses and the people, places, and experiences that define us coexist in a shared emotional landscape.
Overhead, the branches of an aging almond tree stretch across the sky. Once full and expansive, the tree now stands in decline, with only a fraction of its leaves remaining. It serves as a quiet reminder of impermanence, endurance, and the passage of time. Though diminished, it continues to offer shelter, memory, and connection.
The painting was inspired during a Christmas season spent far from much of the family’s community and support network. Although Tobago represented a place of comfort, belonging, and cherished memories, the realities of work, distance, and responsibility remained close at hand. Time together felt limited, and moments of connection existed alongside feelings of isolation and uncertainty.
For the artist, the experience was marked by both gratitude and longing. Sharing this beloved place with her son created moments she continues to cherish, yet she was also aware of the connections and time together that circumstances made difficult. The painting reflects the joy of presence alongside the quiet sadness of missed opportunities, an acknowledgment that even our happiest places cannot always gather everyone we love.
The ocean extends toward the horizon, suggesting movement, migration, and possibility. Like many families shaped by multiple cultures and countries, the artist's family has crossed borders in search of opportunity and a better future for the next generation. Yet some places remain woven into identity regardless of distance.
Rather than documenting a specific moment, Bucco creates a portrait of belonging. It is a meditation on the people, places, and memories we carry with us, and on the quiet longing that sometimes accompanies the places we love most.
Materials
- Date
- 01/2025
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Size
- 30 inches by 40 inches