Caribbean Art (The World of Art)

In this much-needed in-depth study of the Caribbean's rich art history, Belgium-born, Jamaica-based art historian and teacher Veerle Poupeye presents a thoroughly researched, effective and compact view of interwoven indigenous, African, European and Asian influences that fuel the region's vibrant artistic output. Cultures influencedvariously by the Spanish (Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic), English-speaking societies (Jamaica, the Bahamas, Barbados), African and French cultures (Haiti, Guadeloupe, Martinique),and the the Dutch (Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao) are all precisely highlighted. In addition to the political and cultural themes of slavery, colonialism, revolution, independence, imperialism, and racial identity, Poupeye's analysis uncovers the strong religious influences of Haitian voodoo, Jamaican Rastafarianism, and Afro-Cuban Santeria, which are found in vibrant paintings like Hector Hyppolite's "The Great Master," Edward Brown's "Ethiopian Apple," and Wilfredo Lam's Picasso-inspired masterpiece "The Jungle." Armed with a detailed glossary of terms and accurate biographical sketches, Poupeye shows the Caribbean as a place where "creolization is an ongoing process and hybridity, plurality, and open-endedness are fundamental characteristics." --Eugene Holley, Jr.