madalyn k shaw

In Vodou: un corps singulier pluriel, Coutècheve Lavoie-Aupont explores the communal energy of Haitian Vodou through photographs of ritualistic and relational gesture at Lakou Soukri, a renowned site of pilgrimage in Haiti’s Artibonite Valley. This introduction to his photographic practice features a selection of nine works which collectively highlight his attention to colour, light, and expressive movement. Lavoie-Aupont foregrounds the body in the style of Caravaggio and utilizes intense chiaroscuro (light-dark contrast) to dramatize each scene. His vibrant compositions immerse viewers in a shared sensorial experience of devotion and joy, stimulating conversations around community, belief, and the poetics of relation.

Coutècheve Lavoie-Aupont (b. 1982) grew up in Haiti around the influences of Vodou and his family's stories. He first discovered photography through disposable cameras his mother received in parcels from the United States. Over time, his photography practice evolved into a significant storytelling tool for his journalistic and documentary work alongside his pursuits in theatre and poetry. Aupont’s documentary impulse is evidenced by the realism with which these fleeting moments are memorialized, reminiscent of the photographs of Gordon Parks and the photographers of the new documentary movement of the late 1950s in the United States. Here, the artist goes beyond mere observation to reveal his empathetic position as a community member and implicates the viewer in the affect of communion at the same time.

Curated by Madalyn K. Shaw and organized by Ésery Mondésir. Held from April 22 - April 26, 2024 at the Centre for the Study of the Black Canadian Diaspora as part of the Kay Tout Moune Unconference at OCAD University. 

With special thanks to ​the Research Office, OCAD U International, and the Faculty of Art at OCAD University, as well as Amanda Blake, Delali Cofie, Abi Cudjoe, Angela Del Buono, Andrea Fatona, Heather Frise, Haven Hughes, Yuxi Ji, Dedra McDermott, and Tek Yang.