Arts

Vodou visions

The University Gallery has recently welcomed an exhibition of Haitian vodou art to launch the spring term timetable.

Working Models of Heaven: The Origins of the Art of Haitian Vodou explores some of the colourful and complex traditions of the art of Haitian vodou through the religious flags, ironwork and photography of contemporary artists and craftsmen.

Working Models of Heaven

Vodou art is a product of a nation 'founded' upon a colonial history in which remnants of Amerindian, African, Western religious traditions and mythology - and more recently, popular American culture - have merged.

Working Models of Heaven attempts to demonstrate Haiti's perpetual struggle against cultural domination and its extraordinary ability to re-invent a cultural identity of its own making.

The exhibition has been co-curated by Celina Jeffery, currently studying for her PhD with the Department of Art History and Theory, and Phil Cope, founder of the Haitian Fund, an educational charity working with Haitians to develop their self-reliance through education.

Working Models of Heaven will be at the University Gallery (Square 5) until 16 February.

Admission is free.

Opening times are as follows: Monday-Saturday 11.00 to 5.00pm, Sunday 1.00-4.30pm.

For further details please contact Jessica Kenny in the Arts Office on 01206 872074 or e-mail kennj@essex.ac.uk