Artists start arriving 27 November 2015
Screenings and performances: 14–20 December
Exhibition: 18–21 December
Congress: 20 December
Ghetto Biennale
622 Blvd Jean-Jacques Dessalines,
Port-au-Prince,
Haiti
T +50937421367
T +50939387527
T +447958566791
After the Haiti Revolution, the formerly enslaved peasants had three tools for their “counter-plantation” position: the Kreyòl language, the Lakou system (a subaltern land management system) and the belief system and ritual practices of Vodou—a triumvirate of linguistic, territorial and cultural resistance. In Haiti: The Aftershocks of History, Laurent Dubois notes that, “…thanks to a remarkably strong and widely shared set of cultural forms—the Kreyòl language, the Vodou religion, and innovative ways of managing land ownership… they built a society able to resist all forms of subjection that recalled the days of slavery.”
Through an international open call, the Ghetto Biennale invited artists to explore what potentials these radical tools—Kreyòl, Vodou and the Lakou—have to offer to the contemporary world. The Ghetto Biennale welcomed projects that incorporated language, space, performance and symbolism and considered global territorial struggles; forms of linguistic refusal and friction; and ritual and esoteric forms of obstruction and intransigence.
Curators
Andre Eugene (Haiti) & Leah Gordon (UK)
Assistant curators
Cat Barich (Germany), Claudel Casseus (Haiti), Marg Duston (UK), Maccha Kasparian (France), Evel Romain (Haiti), Liz Woodroffe (Barbados/UK)
Participating artists
Achim Mohné (Germany) & Uta Kopp (Germany) with Lisa Bensel (Germany); Adonay Bermúdez (Spain) & Steevens Simeon (Haiti); Alberto Danelli (Italy/UK); Anna Sebastian (UK); Arabella Pio (Italy); Bryan Rodriguez Cambana (Jamaica); Camille Chedda (Jamaica); Carl Martin Faurby (Denmark); Caroline Monnet (Canada); Claude Saintilus (Haiti); Centre D’Art (Haiti); Clocktower Radio (US) with Richard Fleming (US); Dasha Chapman (US), Yonel Charles (Haiti), Jean-Sebastien Duvilaire (US/Haiti) & Ann Mazzocca (US); Eca Eps (Nigeria/UK); Edgar Endress (Chile/US) & Pierre Adler (Haiti); Emilie Boone (US); Erin Durban Albrecht (US); Erwan Souhmi (Morocco/France); Gabriella Gilmore (UK) & Rachael Minott (UK); Getho Jean Baptiste (Haiti); Gina Cunningham (US); Gustavo Malucelli (Brazil); Henrike Nauman (Germany) & Bastian Hagedorn (Germany); Irina Contreras (US); Ismael Ogando (Dominican Republic/Germany) & David Etienne (Haiti); Jackson Thelemaque (Haiti/France); Jamie Ross (Canada); Jean D’Amerique (Haiti) & Muscadin Fritzgerald (Haiti); Jean Daniel (Haiti); Jean Frederick aka Wabba (Haiti); Jean Louis Huhta (Sweden); Jean Robert Alexis (Haiti); Jean Robert Palenquet (Haiti); Jefferson Kielwagen (Brazil/US); Jeffrey Meris (US); Jerry Reginald Chery aka Twoket (Haiti); Joanna Malinowska (Poland) & CT Jasper (Poland); Joe Winter (UK); John Cussans (UK); Joseph Constant (Haiti); Katelyn Alexis (Haiti); Kwynn Johnson (Trinidad and Tobago); Leah Gordon (UK) & Laura Heyman (US); Lee Lee (US); Leo Morrisey (US); Leonard Jean Baptiste (Haiti), Sainclair Olwitchneider (Haiti) & Bijou Makenson (Haiti); Liz Woodroffe (Barbados/UK) & Maccha Kasparian (France); Londel Innocent (Haiti); Mabelle Williams (Haiti); Malin Tivenius (Sweden) & John Soderberg (Sweden); Marc Schmitz (Germany) & Dolgor Ser Od (Mongolia/Germany); Marie Gavois (Sweden) & Michel Klofkorn (Sweden); Michael K Taylor (US); Michael Handley (US); Michael Mulvihill (UK); Michel Lafleur (Haiti); Myrlande Carrenard (Haiti); Myrlande Constant (Haiti); Nastasia Meyrat (Switzerland) & Katrina Meyrat (Switzerland); Olivia Berthon (Martinique); Patrick Elie aka Kombatan (Haiti); Pierre Adler (Haiti); Radhika Khimji (Oman); Reginald Cenatus (Haiti); Roberto N Peyre (Sweden); Rony Cadet (Haiti); Rossi Jacques Casimir (Haiti); Sergei Isakov (Russia) & Anna Dorofeeva (Russia/UK); Severin Guelpa (Switzerland); Sony Alphonse (Haiti); Stuart Baker/Soul Jazz (UK); Syndia Leonce (Haiti), Amazon Esperanta (Haiti) & Vital Geralda (Haiti); Thomas C. Chung (Hong Kong/Australia); Tom Bogaert (Belgium); Tone Olaf Nielsen (Germany), Frederikke Hansen (Denmark) & Mille Hoejerslev (Denmark); University of Muri (Switzerland); Viktor El-Saieh (Haiti); Wesner Basile (Haiti); Whitney Raynor (US) & Josie Scanlan (US); Wilerme Tegenis aka Zaka (Haiti); Wilson Bonhomme (Haiti); Yao Ramesar (Trinidad and Tobago); Zeal Harris (US)
More information about the individual projects
Press and visitor enquiries and travel and accommodation information contact:
Leah Gordon, leahgordon [at] aol.com
