"Haitian naif art"
The artists in this exhibition are called naïf (from the French naïf, meaning “naive”), a term that is applied to an artistic movement characterized by ingenuity and spontaneity, and bright and contrasting colors. Haitian naïve paintings are highly expressive. The artists convey their passion for life through the use of strong colors such as violet, blue, yellow and red. Haitian naïve painters are usually self-taught artists who embark on painting without prior academic training. They are not concerned with the interpretation of perspective, the precision of the line or the naturalism of the colors. They simplify forms, adopt a spontaneous language and create in their own way, according to their own codes.