Intuitive art
Haiti's long legacy
Simon Labere
When Haiti celebrated its Bicentennial in 2004, its Centre d’Art marked 60 years.
The center was founded in 1944, by Dewitt Peters.
But Haitian art is far older than that, dating back to the Taino Indians cave and body art.
The casual observer of Haitian art may not realize the serious schools of art, emerged from this country, which include indigenism, a return to Haitian’s African roots, with expressions of cultural identity.
Later the influences of Cuban and Caribbean culture created a modernist movement.
Those outside the art world may be familiar with what some incorrectly call “ primative art," created by the unschooled artists in the country
This is now correctly referred to as intuitive art.
In the 1940s, Dewitt Peters, an artist and teacher arrived in Haiti. He witnessed the native talent of many uneducated artists, who created beautiful works, while working in other sometimes-menial jobs.
This prompted De Witt to found the Cantre D’ Art in Port au Prince and the beginning of the “ intuitive art” movement.
This is characterized by vivid colors and the breaking of the rules of composition and proportion, in favor of a free flow of expressions.
Haitian born, Marcel Wah, who has a Masters of Fine Arts, comes from a long lineage of native Haitian artists, which include Bernard Wah (1939-1982),
Today Marcel Wah, who lived in the states as an active member of Haiti’s Diaspora, is at the forefront of promoting Haitian art around the world.
His online galleryStudio Wah, offers a venue for many Haitian artists, and Wah and his family have sponsored many art events, which prominently feature Haitian artists.
In 2007 and 2008 Wah staged an International Caribbean Art Fair in new York City, attended by many Haitian artists and art buyers.
Wah says his on line studio is especially interested in highlighting the work of modern Haitian painters to show the range of artistic styles growing from Haitian roots.
Marcel Wah's dream is to open an art school in Haiti with quality art education that will attract foreign students.
Photo: Artist Marcel Wah with his family at the 2008 International Caribbean Art Fair in New York City
virginvoices.com photo by D.B. Bostdorf
Simon Labere collects Hatian art
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