Racine Polycarpe

I am an emerging artist from Atis-Rezistans in the ghetto of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Atis-Rezistans is a community of artists who make work from recycled materials. In a country where only a few artists become recognized, we formed the community of Atis-Rezistans to help each other as artists.
I make sculpture out of recycled materials such as wood, plastic, metal, rubber, and everything I find. I also make paintings with carved rubber from old tires.
The reason I recycle the materials is because in my country when people are finished using things they put them outside. As artists we see value in these things and turn them into art within the history of assemblage art. It is a transformative act to take these discarded objects off the street and turn them into art.

Biography:
In 2006, I was adopted by my uncle, the well known artist, Celeur Jean-Herard. I worked as his apprentice in his school, the ‘Realm of the Arts and Minds’. Here I learned about contemporary art history and I learned how to carve wood and rubber and how to assemble found objects. In 2009, in Port-au-Prince at the Institut Francais, the 1st Ghetto Biennale, and the Fet Gede at the National Cemetery. In 2010 my work was exhibited internationally at the Portman Gallery in London, UK and at the XISM Etnografiska Museet in Stockholm, Sweden. In 2011, I participated in the 2nd Ghetto Biennale in Port-au-Prince and my work was shown in Nouvo Rezistans at the Institut Francais, Port-au-Prince, in 2012 my work was exhibited internationally at the Gallery The Outsider Art Fair Brings Upcycled Artworks to New York City, in 2012 I participated in Civic Art in Haitian Schools project.

Portfolio:
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