Myrlande Constant was born in
Port-au-Prince, ca. 1970. She lives there today with her husband, Charley,
a tap-tap owner, and their three children. She is justly considered the
most talented and innovative of contemporary drapo
vodou artists.
Historically, drapo vodou were created for use in Vodou ceremonies. The
dazzling imagery served to honor and flatter the spirits, persuading them
to assist the struggling serviteurs. Myrlande Constant is chief among a
vanguard of younger artists, whose works are produced primarily for the
international art market.
La Sirene,
2004
VD-994, 20"x38," $2,500
As a child, Constant learned to sew beads from her mother. From
her father, a houngan (Vodou priest), she learned the rich beliefs of
Haitian vodou. At 16, she developed her seamstress skills while working in
a factory which produced wedding dresses. In 1993, she began to make drapo
vodou. Unlike most flag artists, she never apprenticed with anyone; the
style and technique she developed were
unique.
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