April 5, 2005

Haitian Artist Lukha Nowman to visit Shimer

Haitian artist Lukha Nowman Weiner Exilhomme will speak about the art of Haiti on Sunday, April 17 at 6 p.m. in Prairie House on the ShimerCollege campus. A self-taught painter and sculptor working in the surrealist tradition, Nowman’s work will also be on display in Prairie House beginning on April 15.

Lukha Nowman's work seeks to draw the viewer into Haiti's social and political issues.  His canvas works are notable for his signature use of 'inversion' -- each canvas can be viewed from a variety of orientations.  Often, the viewer must contemplate the canvas at length before the aspect shifts to reveal a deeper thematic.  Also distinctive of his style is the often haunting presence of faces.  His sculptures, made with sand, paper, bagasse – crushed sugar cane refuse --, and glass, are done in the 'bas relief' style.

Nowman’s visit is part of an on-going relationship between Shimer College and Rasin Lespwa, a cultural organization in Dabon Haiti, outside of Leogane, that has hosted two groups of Shimer students and staff in recent years.  The 35-year old artist lives and works in Dabon. Visit http://homepages.udayton.edu/~lysaugmt/lukhanowman.html to see some of Nowman's artwork on-line.