André Eugène, the art of reinvention
Forced to leave Port-au-Prince, André Eugène has found refuge in Port-Salut. Fueled by new ideas, he is working to reinvent himself, though his heart remains anchored in Grand-Rue.
The waves of violence that swept through the lower part of Port-au-Prince in late February 2024 deeply disrupted the Atis Rezistans artistic community. Faced with mounting insecurity, its members were forced to flee. Shortly before the escape of several dozen inmates from the national penitentiary in early March, André Eugène shared that his home had been besieged several times by armed men preparing their offensive. “That was the last straw. I couldn’t leave my family exposed to such violence. We left with almost nothing,” he said with regret.
Almost a year after leaving Grand-Rue, where he spent more than 50 years of his life, Eugène speaks about his departure with emotion. “Nothing had prepared us for such an ending. We—the Atis Rezistans—never imagined that one day we would be forced to leave our home. It was a dark time for us, because that place had only ever known the lively noise of artists, craftsmen, and mechanics. We felt lost,” he recalls, still haunted by the memories.
“When I lie awake in the middle of the night, I look at the photos I’ve kept on my old phone. It’s hard to forget a place where you’ve invested everything, where you’ve lived your most intense emotions. But what’s hardest is knowing that Grand-Rue will never be the same again,” the sculptor laments.
“But life must go on, right?” he adds with resilience.
And because life must go on, André Eugène, now living in Port-Salut, a town in the South department of Haiti, is gradually rediscovering his creative spark. He has already completed 17 sculptures, some reaching impressive dimensions of 132 inches by 32 inches.
What delights Eugène most is the warm welcome he’s received from this new community, which is discovering his artistic world for the first time. “Whether people like them or not, these sculptures spark curiosity. I’m lucky to be right by the roadside, so they’re highly visible. People don’t hesitate to ask me questions about my creative process and what inspires me. Some see them as objects tied to the Vodou religion, others think I’m a houngan or just a madman. But I’ve faced those same perceptions back when I started out in Grand-Rue. I’ve learned to assert my work as meaningful art. I’ll succeed here too,” he says with determination.
The main challenges Eugène faces are sourcing materials and building a customer base. “Wood is available in my community, but for salvaged objects, I have to travel several kilometers to Quatre Chemins (a locality near Les Cayes, editor’s note). Transporting all the material back to Port-Salut is a real headache—I have to move tons of scrap metal,” explains the sculptor.
According to Eugène, it will take time for this new community to become a true clientele. “Right now, they’re in a phase of discovery, learning how to connect with this unfamiliar aesthetic. They ask questions, they watch, they begin to appreciate. I’m in no rush. What I learned at Grand-Rue is that patience is key. I’m confident I’ll carve out my place here too,” he says with confidence.
When asked why he continues to create despite the obstacles, Eugène replies that art, to him, is a form of liberation and self-discovery. “Creating means turning my emotions, thoughts, dreams, or experiences into something tangible. It’s how I pour myself out, how I reconnect with who I am. No matter the challenges, the setting, or the audience—I create, above all, to feel alive,” he insists.
From March 10 to May 10, 2025, André Eugène will lead a sculpture workshop in Port-Salut. He will guide young artists through iron and wood sculpting techniques, with a special focus on using salvaged materials—a hallmark of his practice. The workshop will explore creativity through bold and unconventional approaches.
For Eugène, this initiative is both a way to deepen his ties with the community and to share a fresh perspective on what art can be.