Black art and African history continue to serve as a powerful duo. History and spiritual awakening are fuel for Haitian American visual and performance artist Watson Mere during his new solo exhibition, “Watson Mere: The Forces,” at EFA Studios, located at 323 West 29th Street, 3rd floor).
Mere’s new presentation, displaying four paintings, derived from his spiritual awakening regarding Haitian Vodou and Americana. The artist developed his vision for the new exhibition from his recent residency at Haiti Cultural Exchange. “I’ve been working on these pieces since November 2024 — I’ve been riding the A train at three, four in the morning, getting from this studio [in Manhattan] to Bed-Stuy, seeing different energies on the train,” said Mere. “No matter what I saw, I’m happy getting to this place.”
During the exhibition opening reception, Mere thanked the Haiti Cultural Exchange for giving him the knowledge to interpret his heritage. “A heritage that I didn’t know anything about.” Mere passionately explained to his over 300 visitors how his Haitian and West African background was always present in his home, although he didn’t learn its deep roots until adulthood. “A lot of things that I’ve learned from the Haiti Cultural Exchange were implanted into these pieces.”
Brenika Banks photos
Pic 8 – Watson Mere taking pictures with friends and supporters at “The Forces” exhibition opening reception. Credit: Brenika Banks photo 
“Watson Mere: The Forces” exhibition piece titled “Potomitan.” 
“Watson Mere: The Forces” exhibition piece titled “La Perle des Antilles.” 
Watson Mere speaking to visitors at his “The Forces” exhibition opening reception.
“Watson Mere: The Forces” consists of four pieces featuring similar backgrounds containing acrylic paint mixed with sugar, forming a thick textured surface. This surface is meant to be interpreted as manipulated patterns that resemble flames, rising heat, and fire. The sugar used in the paintings is significant because about 50% of the United States’ source of sugar comes from sugarcane fields in his hometown Belle Glade, Florida. “In order for them to harvest the sugarcane fields, they need to set the fields on fire,” Mere told the AmNews. His childhood memories of seeing the smoke from the cane fields, as well as his parents working in the cane fields, ignited his inspiration for this exhibition. These pieces resonate strongly with his personal and professional history.
Beyond the flames, all four paintings embody different versions of portals for the viewer to decode. The main painting “Lafimen (Smoke)”, along with “La Perle des Antilles” and “Oracle” all have centered black figures representing obvious portals. Mere’s fourth piece, “Potomitan,” invites the viewer to look deeper and recognize the portal are eyes instead of a black figure. “The fire within this piece [‘Potomitan’] works as a liminal space, somewhat of a portal where you gauge into a different dimension,” said Mere. He further explained that the pillar image, “Poto Mitan,” is a sacred Vodou pole epitomizing earth, heaven and ancestors.
Mere continued, “The pillar is tied with different colors of scarves where, typically, there is a yellow scarf as well, but you don’t see it present.” He explained intentionally giving his audience a perceptive look within the Vodou ceremony, into the piercing eyes of the painting. “As you’re seeing these different eyes, you’re the yellow scarf looking within the ceremony.”
“You have to see in real life for the details – the photos don’t do it justice,” said Amarachi Ede, an attendee at the opening reception. The same “Poto Mitan” Vodou pole is seen in the background of his main painting, “Lafimen (Smoke).” This painting and “Potomitan” are deliberately positioned across from each other in the exhibition.
Mere believed delving into his heritage would encourage learning more about Haitian spirituality. “I knew as an artist, it was not only something that I should dive into, but my duty as a Haitian artist to speak towards this spirituality that has a vast history beyond slavery – a history that remains within the Arawak Taíno people, a history that goes into West Africa, a history that goes even beyond West Africa.”
“Watson Mere: The Forces” is rooted in ancestry, spiritual awareness and symbolism. “As an artist, it’s my duty to take the baton and continue the story,” said Mere.
For more info, visit studios-efanyc.org/watson-mere.