In the organizer's words:

What actually happens when artists openly embrace a spiritual practice? Why is spirituality so frowned upon - at least in the Western art world?

We are showing a unique short film program about spirituality as a form of resistance - decolonial, Creole, feminist - based on the paintings of the Haitian voodoo priest and artist André Pierre in the Museum Ostwall collection.

One of the most famous filmmakers to embrace voodoo was Maya Deren. In Haiti, Deren connected with the 'loas' of voodoo and dedicated herself to this practice in her films and books. Because: you don't believe voodoo, you practice it! Deren learned a lot from the voodoo priest André Pierre, who in turn discovered painting through the filmmaker.

The artistic short film program interweaves painting, film, dance and spirituality in relation to Haitian voodoo and its deep roots in decolonial resistance.

Short film program:

In the Mirror of Maya Deren, Matrina Kudláček, 2001, 103' (excerpt)
Who was Maya Deren? In her eye-opening documentary, Austrian director Martina Kudláček succeeds in deciphering one of the most enigmatic figures in film history in a unique way. Rare interviews with the dancer Katherine Dunham and the painter André Pierre provide an insight into the belief system that changed Deren's life: Haitian voodoo.

At Land, Maya Deren, 1944, 15'
Maya Deren never really felt comfortable "on land". Born Eleanora Derenkovskaya, the Ukrainian artist had her husband and cameraman Alexander Hammid give her a new name: Maya, the water. In At Land, the two create surrealistic worlds that take us from one dream to the next.

Katherine, Esery Mondesir, 2019, 3'
In this experimental short film, Esery Mondesir focuses on a key figure in Maya Deren's life: Katherine Dunham. It was none other than this famous dancer, anthropologist and Civil Right Movement activist who introduced Deren to Haitian dance culture. Mondesir reworked found footage material showing Dunham in Haiti.

Fly, Fly Sadness, Miryam Charles, 2015, 6'
Miryam Charles belongs to a new generation of artists from the Haitian diaspora. Surrealist elements are combined with hypnotic landscapes and a 'cursed' story.

A Fortress, Miryam Charles, 2018, 6'
In this experimental film shot on grainy 16mm, the artist with Haitian roots tells of the supernatural, spiritual power of Haiti: the island's DNA is said to bring the deceased back to life.

Free admission.

An event by Art on the MOve, acooperation between Museum Ostwall and the International Women's Film Festival Dortmund+Cologne.