New Image Art is pleased to present “Yee Yee Cries Of A Lost Tribe”, a solo exhibition with painter Erlin Geffrard. The show features a new series of eclectic mixed media assemblage paintings in Geffrard’s signature bright tactile style.
Erlin’s childhood was confronted by an identity crisis where the reality of his environment and personal spiritual beliefs conflicted. The engrained racist identity of the south combined with the amount of violence in his neighborhood growing up equated him as just another black man in the community. However, at home he was taught to stand with perfect posture and have pride in himself, belief systems that would help him rise above the neighborhood norm and pursue his creative abilities.
Influenced by his Haitian background the works in “Yee Yee Cries Of A lost Tribe” draw inspiration from the Saint Solei School, which is characterized by abstracted human forms and is heavily influenced by Vodoue symbolism. Ordained into generations of Haitian Voudon priesthood Erlin seeks to relay this reality in his paintings, which at times seem to be acts of devotion or ritual based objects in themselves. By re- appropriating religious, cultural, political and historical allegories and symbolism, Erlin’s paintings carry an outsider point of view while encouraging viewers to explore within his colorful assemblage works.
Geffrard is currently based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Fine Art and recently received an assistant fellowship at the American Academy in Rome.
