A piece of art can exist as more than one thing. There is a reason that film is called moving pictures. Photography and film are synonymous things to me. Even while an image is still, there is incredible life and motion inside of it. Like my DNA, I draw from many inspirations and disciplines. My artwork has tended to shed light upon stories that have historically been pushed to the margins of society. Taking what peripheral and centralizing stories and artists of colour.
Elder Lillian Elias taken on the set of Red Snow
Young Indigenous children Photo by Haui Photo by Haui
(Zhoh Daatsik Pictures)
Red Snow, written and directed by Déne/Métis Marie Clements, explores the cross-culturalization of Indigenous and Afghan communities. Shot on location in the tundras of Northwest Territories and the sweltering interiors of British Columbia, the film explored a young indigenous soldier’s journey from his home in the North of Canada. To gain access to this indigenous community Dettah, which means „Burnt Point“ in the Dogrib language, one must drive along the „ice highway,“ a road that is 6.4 km (3.97 miles) long, running across Yellowknife Bay on the Great Slave Lakes. At minus 47 degrees with additional wind chills, this was one of the most extreme shoots I have been a part of to date.
Samuel Marty taken on the set of Red Snow Photo by Haui
(Zhoh Daatsik Pictures)
Mozhdah Jamalzadah taken on the set of Red Snow Photo by Haui
(Zhoh Daatsik Pictures)
MixedUp was my feature-length directorial film. The film was a deeply profound and personal exploration of the nuances and contradictions of living as someone of mixed heritage. Using a range of disciplines from spoken word, opera, visual arts, and photography, the piece asks that we reject rigid binaries of race, gender, and orientation, inviting us to swim in the beauty and complexity of our humanity. ETalk Canada said, “MixedUp will allow a lot of people to begin healing,” while Stir Magazine noted, “MixedUp defies categorization, a lot like the artist at its centre.”
More info at mixedup.ca
Haui + his father
Photo courtesy of Mixed Up Pictures Inc
Self Portrait
Photo courtesy of Mixed Up Pictures In
One focus of mine is finding ways to expand and pay homage to the past, reframing history through a diverse and queer lens. Below are some more expressions of my work.
Photo of Micah Barnes by Haui
Hamlet 911 Stratford Festival
This piece reframed Shakespeare’s and John Everett Millais’ Ophelia through an Afro-lens.
Photo of Rodney Diverlus by Haui
Vagabond, Vakabon Et Al
This was a dance work created by Rodney Diverlus exploring queer rebellion in Haitian culture
Photo of Jenny Brizard by Haui
C’est Moi
This piece explored the history of Marie-Josephe Angelique, who was tried for burning down Montréal.
haui is an award-winning mixed-media artist who has worked as a director, designer and deviser creating new work in theatre, opera, film and visual arts. a graduate of toronto metropolitan university haui has worked for leading arts organizations including canadian broadcast corporation, canadian opera company, the stratford festival, shaw festival, laminato festival and more. more info at haui.ca