After surviving the traumas of colonization and enslavement, Haiti became the world's first black-led republic and the first independent Caribbean state, but suffered further under the oppressive and violent Duvalier dictatorships. Regrettably, in the post-Duvalier era, the resulting political instability and humanitarian crisis run parallel to a vibrant culture.
Haitian-Canadian artist Manuel Mathieu creates visually-rich and multi-layered artworks, in an ever-broadening range of media, which examine and interrogate the complex history of his family homeland. His artworks are currently featured in two solo exhibitions -- one at The Power Plant in Toronto, the other at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. Springboarding from these exhibitions will be a monographic publication about Mathieu, made possible with support of Galerie Hugues Charbonneau in Montreal and SODEC (Société de développement des entreprises culturelles) in Quebec.
To learn more about Mathieu, his artworks and the upcoming publication, join what promises to be a thought-provoking conversation with Gaetane Verna, Director of The Power Plant, whose family is also deeply-rooted in Haiti. They will touch upon Haiti's past and present, artistic lineage, figuration and abstraction, and the role of exhibitions and publications in proliferating and preserving knowledge. The program will conclude with questions from the audience.
