Morel
Doucet
January 2024
Visual Arts
Margate, FL
Morel Doucet, born in 1990 in Pilate, Haiti, is a Miami-based multidisciplinary artist and arts educator. Drawing from his Haitian roots, Doucet explores climate gentrification, migration, and displacement within Black diaspora communities using ceramics, illustrations, and prints. His artwork presents narratives that delve into the contemporary reshaping of the Black experience, capturing the degradation of the environment where economic inequality, the commodification of industry, personal labor, and race intersect.
His work gained recognition in the 59th Venice Biennale exhibition "The Afro-Futurist Manifesto: Blackness Reimagined," curated by Myrtis Bedolla, Director of Galerie Myrtis. Doucet's Emmy-nominated work has been featured and reviewed in numerous publications, including Vogue Mexico, The New York Times, Oxford University Press, Hyperallergic, Luxe Interiors + Design, Biscayne Times, PBS, Miami Herald, and WhiteHot Magazine. Doucet's work is held in collections of the Tweed Museum of Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami, the Plymouth Box Museum, Microsoft, and Facebook.
He graduated from the New World School of the Arts with the Distinguished Dean's Award for Ceramics. From there, he continued his education at the Maryland Institute College of Art, receiving his BFA in Ceramics with a minor in creative writing and a concentration in illustration.
BIO
“My work explores the cultural disparity of self-realization, assimilation, and transnational identity as a Haitian immigrant. Using direct or implied human figures, I explore narratives of vulnerability, isolation, and alienation within various cultures across the globe. Within the vocabulary of indigenous art and my dreams, I create whimsical forms resulting in a diary of self-mythology. These exchanges allude to a larger conversation about sea-level rise, environmental pollution, and the displacement between descendants of the African diaspora, and their physical environments.
Through intensive detailed labor, my work mimics the current state of Black fragility. I employ ceramics, illustrations, and prints to examine the realities of climate- gentrification, migration, and displacement within the Black diaspora communities. In addressing these issues, I merge my Afro-Caribbean culture with flora and fauna and draw from the concerns of the collective consciousness of my community. In my quest to illustrate the impact of climate gentrification, I present work with visual impact and sensitivity — and draw inspiration from the indigenous cultures of the Amazon, the Aboriginal people of Australia, and the Yoruba tribe of West Africa.”
STATEMENT
How Do You Define Innovative Storytelling? How Can This Innovation Be Used As A Tool To Educate, Preserve, And Celebrate The Natural Environment?
“Innovative storytelling, in my view, refers to the creative and unconventional ways in which narratives are crafted and shared. It involves breaking away from traditional storytelling forms and experimenting with new mediums, technologies, and perspectives to engage, captivate, and educate audiences. This innovation can be an incredibly potent tool to educate, preserve, and celebrate the natural environment.
Education: Innovative storytelling can revolutionize environmental education. It goes beyond textbooks and lectures, using immersive experiences, interactive technologies like virtual reality, and multimedia content to make learning about the environment more engaging and accessible. For example, interactive virtual tours of ecosystems or augmented reality apps can transport learners into the heart of a rainforest or the depths of the ocean, facilitating a deeper understanding of these environments.
Preservation: Storytelling innovations can be harnessed to bolster conservation efforts. By using data visualization, gamification, and even blockchain technology, we can create platforms that enable individuals to track and participate in conservation initiatives. Additionally, narrative-driven campaigns, such as those using compelling documentaries or narrative-driven social media content, can rally support for the protection of natural spaces.
Representation: My art can prioritize representation by highlighting diverse cultural perspectives and experiences with nature. By telling stories that reflect the environmental experiences of marginalized communities, I can shed light on the unique challenges they face and the wisdom they can offer in sustainable practices.
Community Engagement: Art has the potential to engage communities in environmental discussions. I can collaborate with community organizations to co-create art that represents their environmental concerns and aspirations. This participatory approach ensures that the voices of marginalized communities are heard and valued.
In conclusion, innovative storytelling has the potential to revolutionize how we educate, preserve, and celebrate the natural environment. It can engage audiences in new and exciting ways, fostering a deeper connection to nature. Additionally, as an artist, I see the potential for my work to play a crucial role in promoting equity within the environmental movement by representing diverse perspectives, advocating for marginalized communities, and engaging communities in meaningful dialogue about environmental issues.”