His Excellency Wade Mark, Acting President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, extends heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, colleagues and all those who were inspired by the life and work of cultural icon and artistic polymath William “Willi” Chen.
Mr. Chen’s life was distinguished by an extraordinary breadth of creative and practical endeavour. As a sculptor, painter, playwright, writer, stage designer, architect, engineer, inventor and entrepreneur, he applied his imagination and ingenuity across a remarkable range of disciplines. Largely self-taught, he worked with materials as varied as steel, wood and concrete, while also finding expression through theatre and the written word.
His contribution to the nation is reflected in works such as Solar Marinorama, the monumental steel sculpture at the Central Bank, the Triumphant Christ mural at Christ the King Roman Catholic Church in San Fernando and the Escriva Lighthouse Tower in Pointe-a-Pierre. Through his literary work, including his short stories, plays and novels, he also gave voice to the people, places and experiences of Trinidad and Tobago. His outstanding contributions to national life were recognised with the Hummingbird Medal (Silver) in 1989 and the Chaconia Medal (Silver) in 2006.
His Excellency joins the arts and cultural fraternity and the wider national community in honouring the storied life and legacy of Mr Willi Chen.
May he rest in eternal peace.
