Artists highlight Haiti’s crises in inaugural Young Painters Contest | PHOTOS

CAP-HAITIEN — Edlyn Jean-Louis emerged as the winner of the inaugural Young Painters Contest organized by the Musée des Beaux-Arts [Fine Arts Museum] in Cap-Haïtien on Thursday. Jean-Louis presented a harrowing depiction of Haiti’s crises through his artwork. His two pieces featured scenes of Haitians fleeing the country by boat or plane, a burning house, and politicians holding a tearful Haitian hostage in chains.

Despite being introduced to the competition twice, Jean-Louis almost refrained from participating due to his personal struggles amidst Haiti’s multiple crises. He initially saw painting as a “waste of time” in a country in ruins that has traditionally overlooked art.