VOLUME II / ISSUE VII / JULY 2018
VALERIE POMPEE
The Feminine Force of Masculinity Valérie Pompée is an interior designer and artist in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. From her atelier in the mountains above the capital city, she designs her BakaArt – skulls of bulls embellished in colorful sequins, beading and designs. Her BakaArt, which drew international acclaim when Donna Karan purchased one at a charity auction, is the hottest thing to collect in Port-au-Prince. We talked to Pompée at home about Voodoo in contemporary art and the female representation of power on art whose base is undeniably masculine. “The female power is super-imposed on the raw male power of the bullhead; it is overshadowed by the female touch of pure refinement. Each piece is strong and exudes the fierceness that the bull head naturally possesses,” said Pompée, who believes this art form is an obvious thing for her to do. “I saw some embellished bull heads from other countries and imagined that with our beads and the Voodoo culture of Haiti, we could do something a lot more special here.” She sources her beads and embellishments in the “marché pepe” - or flea markets - of Haiti. She buys from the same merchants who supply the traditional Voodoo flag designers known for their collectability. The richness of the Haitian artisan community supplies an endless amount of inspiration. “Haiti and Haitian women are a true inspiration - each day I’m amazed of the beauty that exists within poverty.” She shows BakaArt regularly in Port-auPrince’s renowed Gallerie Monnin and sells in boutique stores in Petion-Ville, a suburb of the capitol city.
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