André Pierre, (left) “Baron Samedi” (c.1960), oil on canvas, 36 x 48 inches (91.4 x 121.9 cm); (right) “Gran Brigitte” (c. 1960), oil on canvas, 36 x 48 inches (91.4 x 121.9 cm) (photo Natalie Haddad/Hyperallergic)
Ayiti Toma II: Faith, Family, and Resistance
Luhring Augustine, 17 White Street, Tribeca, Manhattan
A collaboration between Luhring Augustine, El-Saieh Gallery in Port-au-Prince, and CENTRAL FINE in Miami Beach, Ayiti Toma II, organized by artist Tomm El-Saieh, immediately stands out for its striking visuals. Jewel hues and sparkling sequins share space with figural iron cut-outs and intricate psychedelic scenes. The work in this stunning exhibition of Haitian artists across generations is also a fascinating lesson in the country’s rich art history and, in turn, its cultural and political history. Searing historical images by the likes of brothers Philomé and Sénèque Obin, who pioneered the Cap-Haïtien school of painting, sit alongside works by contemporary artists, including Myrlande Constant’s textile works, inspired by the Drapo flags of Haitian Voudou, and mixed media sculptures titles “Zwazo” (“bird” in Haitian creole) by Jean Hérard Celeur. Group shows can be a mishmash but El-Saieh, with the three partnered galleries, beautifully interweaves distinctive artworks into a complementary whole without sacrificing the individual aesthetic or message of each artist. It’s hard to single anything out, but Constant’s shimmering sequined and beaded banners and André Pierre’s commanding portraits are mesmerizing.
Read full article at hyperallergic.com
