Synopsis of Art by Artists of Haitian Descent in the Diaspora - Part IV

Hyperrealism is characterized by high-resolution-photo-like renditions of nature. When looking at these paintings, one may have difficulty ascertaining whether they are photographs or paintings. The artists painstakingly strive to maintain photographic illusion through meticulous depiction of the subject at hand. Three artists whose paintings stand out for their extreme realism or their trompe- l ’oeil qualities are Sophia Lacroix, Louis Louissaint, and Carl Craig.

Carl Craig is a photographer and painter whose paintings reflect his dedication to capturing transfixed moments, and aspects of nature as faithfully as possible. Like Louis Louissaint and Sophia Lacroix, Craig’s paintings are characterized by their photo- graphic appearance.

Craig strives to reproduce satisfactorily every minute detail in regards to shape, proportion and color. The aim is to succeed in creating a perfect trompe-l ’oeil. Begging the question: Is it a picture or a painting? If the motif behind the painting is only a highly deceptive photo-realism the work is humanely meaningless and futile.

The complete article can be found in Issue #276 of the Tokyo Journal. Click here to order from Amazon.