Fort Gansevoort Gallery in New York’s Meatpacking District has lengthy been one in every of my favourite galleries. Housed in an outdated three-story constructing, they’ve been presenting a few of the freshest and most authentic reveals within the metropolis. The present exhibition, Myrlande Fixed: Drapo is one in every of their greatest. Fixed is a Haitian artist who works in textiles, taking a standard type referred to as “drapo” and rocketing it into the realm of latest artwork. Drapo is predicated on a 19th century embroidery method developed in France, referred to as tambour. Cloth is stretched tautly over a wood body and embroidery, utilizing sequins and beads performed from the reverse facet.
That’s—a drawing is sketched on the higher facet of the material. The artist can see the drawing, which shall be on the again of the work, however she reaches beneath and applies the sequins and beadwork from the underside of the material. It’s terribly time consuming and conceptually difficult work. Fixed’s items can take months to make and make use of as much as 20 folks to assist her with the fabrication. Drapo has historically been utilized in Haiti as a visible expression for the adherents of Vodou, a syncretic faith which mixes points of diasporic African-religions with Catholicism. Myralande Fixed has taken the pantheon of Vodou symbols, deities and mythologies, and suffused them with a up to date spirit and sensibility.
The work is fascinating and works each from a number of vantage factors Seen from a distance the densely narrative textiles inform macro tales of the Vodou deities. Seen up shut the element and nuance that Fixed has achieved in sequins and beads is outstanding. The deep texture of those works and the best way gentle performs off of the shiny and matte surfaces imbue the visible tales with a way of life and always shifting potentialities.
The biggest piece within the present is Reincarnation des Morts (2022). It’s 110 x 11 inches and portrays the household of Haitian Vodou spirits related to the useless.
Now, have a look at the main points:
I like the best way that Fixed embroiders the panorama and sky behind the figures. The image aircraft is flat, transferring us from under the earth to the sky. Nothing is static on this piece. The dynamic swirl of the lives of the spirits is mirrored within the dynamism of the textile. The work has an affinity to portray that’s uncommon on this discipline. Vodou banners have been historically made by males and usually extra static of their portrayal of the world. Fixed brings each a mastery of the craft and a mastery of composition to this physique of labor.
Fixed is deeply related to her non secular apply. That’s evident in each the art work and the best way wherein she speaks about it. It’s for her, an act of each creative and non secular devotion to make Drapo. The spirits and tales that she portrays reside vibrant beings. To additional this level she additionally incorporates bits and items of Haitian each day life and historical past into the tableaux.
In Apre Gran Met La Fey Nan Bwa Se Tretmant Yo Viy ( 2022) Fixed presents a rural agarian scene. Individuals getting ready meals, tilling the land and chatting. However presiding over the scene are two large snakes that symbolize two necessary spirits in Vodou. Danbala and Ayida Wedo symbolize sexuality, fertility and the land. Fixed lets us know that regardless of how mundane the duty, the spirits are all the time with us.
Myralande Fixed began her creative profession as a low-wage employee within the garment business. She toiled in factories, together with different girls, working lengthy hours for meager wages. The triumph of her art work is the triumph of her dedication and non secular drive to make art work that honors her faith. This can be a outstanding present, by a outstanding artist.
This text is a republication of the Artwork Spiel web site.
All pictures courtesy of Melissa Stern and the Fort Gansevoort Gallery.