Vodou
31 October 2008 to 10 May 2009 in the Light Hall
Art & Mysticism from Haiti
A grand exhibition about voodoo on Haiti with more than 250 spectacular objects from one of the most important collections on Haiti: the Lehmann collection.
The exhibition shows how these objects and the accompanying rituals are a part of the daily life on Haiti. They have been made and used by secret societies, and have rarely been shown outside Haiti. The life-size images, complete altars and fascinating art objects paint a picture of this mysterious religion with her African, Christian and Indian elements.
Vodou
Vodou evolved from slavery. It stems from various African religions, mixed with, amongst other things, aspects of Catholic rituals and images of saints. The exhibition paints a convincing picture of a complex but supple religion which has no dogma or hierarchy and allows its adherents plenty of freedom.
Art & Mysticism
The collection of artefacts presents a unique picture of the creativity of the practitioners of vodou. Almost all the objects are dedicated to the Lwa, the countless gods and spirits that populate the vodou pantheon. The embroidered flags, sculptures and decorated pitchers and mirrors frequently have a sacred meaning or are ‘charged’ with magic powers.
A large part of the exhibition is devoted to images and objects from Bizango secret societies, which go back to the days of slavery.
The tour
The exhibition opened in Geneva on 5 December 2007. The Tropenmuseum is the second museum in Europe to host this spectacular collection. In 2009, after leaving Amsterdam, it will be transferred to the Museum of World Culture in Gothenburg, in 2010 it goes to the Ethnological Museum in Berlin and finally in 2011 to the Űberseemuseum in Bremen. At the end of 2011 it returns to Haiti, where it will be given a permanent place in the new, planned museum.
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