IN PÒTOPRENS AFRICAN TRADITIONS MEET COLONIAL, AND RELIGIOUS NORMS

RON ALEXANDER SPECIAL TO THE MIAMI TIMES JUL 3, 2019

When I was invited to view an exhibition of Haitian art at the Museum of Contemporary Art in North Miami, I was slightly intimidated and curious, awe struck yet open minded. I was challenged to understand the complexities of Haitian art and what fuels Haitian artists to create paintings, sculpture and photography steep in history and rich in tradition.

“'PÒTOPRENS' is a large-scale exhibition of sculptures, photographs, and films, accompanied by a recreated Port-au-Prince barbershop as well as extensive public programming,” says MOCA. “The exhibition gives viewers an eye-opening look into the immense diversity of Haiti’s civilization and depicts the city’s chaotic intersections of history, art, religion, political scene and cultural shifts.”

What amazed me were the diverse sculptures intricately fashioned from metals, wires, discarded shoes and human skulls, sequined Voodoo flags, stone and wood carvings, many of the seven-foot sculptures never seen in the United States. Every piece in the sculptures has a significance, representing history and tradition. The sculptures are shrouded in voodoo and religious mysticism, highlighting the artists’ community in Port-au-Prince situated behind the remains of a Catholic Cathedral where art is created... The exhibition runs at MOCA through Aug. 11.

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