Vodou is a traditional Afro-Haitian religion that blends elements of the West African Vodun religion with Roman Catholicism. This syncretism arose among the descendants of various ethnic groups who were enslaved and transported to colonial Saint-Domingue (now known as Haiti). Roman Catholic missionaries partly Christianized these individuals during the 16th and 17th centuries. The practice of ancestral worship, a foundation of many African and Indigenous religions, holds that the path to freedom lies through the spirit of the ancestors and the belief in lwas (deities). This belief system can be traced back to the Dahomey, Yoruba, and Ifa religions of West Africa.

Although Haitian culture has been discussed and celebrated more in the past decade than it has in the last 100 years, Haitian Vodou art is still often associated with stigmas surrounding its folklore, artistry,  and heritage. This exhibition will explore the importance of Haitian Vodou contribution to the discussion of hero-making through visual identity.  Veve in Haitin Vodou are sacred geometric designs, often drawn on the ground during rituals to invoke specific spirits or lwa . They are typically created by strewing a powder-like substance, such as cornmeal, wheat flour, wood ash, or even red brick powder or gunpowder, onto a surface, often the earthen floor of a peristyle (temple). Veve serve as visual representations of the Lwa and are believed to be pathways for the spirits to enter the physical realm. Through a small sample of Veve designs, we will look at Dr. Moise's interpretation of this artform. Through the use of augmented reality, she will also layer the conversation on how the lwas are now being reclaimed and represented on digital platforms, such as Instagram's Vodou Renaissance.