Haiti’s unstable political and economic situation coupled with the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake have been sufficient reasons for Haitians to seek refuge in other countries. A popular destination has been the U.S., where, in fact, most Haitian migrants reside. In Florida alone, the state with the largest Haitian population, there are 487,632 estimated individuals in 2023, followed by Massachusetts as the second most populated U.S. state, according to World Population Review.
Despite, or perhaps, in lieu of their harsh circumstances, Haitians place great emphasis in maintaining their culture and traditions across borders, often using art to illustrate their lifestyle and even the hardships of their homeland. One such artist is Frantz Zéphirin, a painter, sculpture and designer who, among 27 other Haitian artists, is showcasing his artwork in “Cosmic Mirrors,” an exhibition at NSU Art Museum scheduled from May 24 to Aug. 6.
Born in Cap-Haitien (a port city in northern Haiti) in 1968, Zéphirin is the 24th of his father’s 48 children (by 19 different women). Coming from a family of artists, he was inspired by his uncle from an early age to draw and paint, and by the age of eight, he sold his first painting. He became self-taught, eventually gaining international recognition by participating in (and winning) numerous art competitions.
Zéphirin has made a name for himself, so much so that after the earthquake, from which he barely escaped, his painting, “The Resurrection of the Dead,” made it to the cover of The New Yorker magazine just days after the devastating event. He has also been featured in stories by The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, BBC and more.
Zéphirin’s paintings document Haitian’s spiritual life in the material and metaphysical world. He transforms spirits into animals and says that, through his art, he transmits a parallel world and brings a message from a dimension people have not attained. “I’m inspired by an inner and outer reality; often things that cannot be seen,” he says.
His motivation translates into reaching the unknown, constantly challenging himself to go where other artists haven’t. He often portrays the “loas” (African spirits represented in Haitian Vodou), a prominent component of Haitian culture.
Zéphirin, 54, says that Haiti has always been a leader in the Caribbean region on a cultural and artistic level. For him, art reflects people’s beliefs, history and background, as well as people’s pride and disappointments. “Artists are the chroniclers of these events,” he says.
Photo courtesy of Frantz Zéphirin
We also chat with Ariella Wolens, curator at NSU Art Museum, about “Cosmic Mirrors” and how Haitian culture remains largely misunderstood and unknown for those outside the Haitian immigrant communities.
“This exhibition is not only an opportunity to be stimulated by varied and innovative approaches to visual expression, but also a chance to use these creative objects as resources to gain greater cultural knowledge,” she says. Wolens, 33, hopes the display sparks curiosity and encourages people to learn more about Haitian abundant, unique culture.
She explains that the exhibition’s core message is the concept of duality, which is pervasive in Haitian society, especially in Vodou cosmology. She explains that the term comes from Haitian academic Leslie G. Desmangles, author and professor of religion at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. “In an essay on African interpretations of the crucifix in Vodou, he wrote, ‘In the Vodou worldview the metaphysical world of the loas is not a vague and mystical one but a cosmic mirror which inverts the images of the world of the living reflecting them,’” she says.
“In addition to our focus on duality and parallels, the exhibition provides insight into historical subjects such as the establishment of the renowned Centre d’Art in Port-au-Prince in 1944, the native techniques of bosmetal (artwork made from repurposed steel drums) and drapo (sequin flags), the history and representation of the Haitian Revolution, as well as work by artists who responded to modern art movements,” says Wolens.
For more information about “Cosmic Mirrors,” visit nsuartmuseum.org.