Haiti's Cultural Destrustion by Artnet News
Written on January 26, 2010
Because of the earthquake on January 12, 2010, much of the country of Haiti has been left in ruins. Among these places are the Musee/Galerie D'Art Nader in Port-au-Prince. This place holds around 12,000 pieces of artwork, much of which was destroyed when the museum collapsed on itself. Many people have attempted to save bits and pieces of artwork from the rubble, but most have come up with little to no success. Among the things trying to be salvaged are church murals and paintings by Philome Obin, who is referred to as the grand master of Haitian paintings. Although no one knows how much of the actual Haitian culture was lost or damaged, people have realized that the country will never be the same.
If I were a part of Haiti, I would feel very lost without artwork, a major part of their culture. The arts have always been embraced in this area of the world and they hold much of the cultural identity of the nation itself. Without artwork, my life would feel empty and hallow, with no outlet to turn to. I feel very saddened by the loss of the people's artwork, some of which are hundreds of years old. I cannot begin to imagine how the people of Haiti feel about this gigantic hole in their culture.
Art has been a great aspect in the shaping of Haiti itself. Many people in the country participate in a form of art, whether it be music, dance, or painting. This loss of artwork has left a gap in their cultural identity, which has never occurred since their ancestry. People all across the country are feeling the downfalls of this earthquake, not just financially, but in their attitudes as well. Without artwork, their moods have been shifted. The arts are a main focus of the region, and without it, their culture is in a type of limbo. People of the area say that their country is as strong as it is due to their intense cultural ties. Without artwork, their ties are slowly beginning to loosen. No one knows what the cultural future of this country will be.