Joseph Jasmin
Joseph quickly became familiar with work in clay and tried to sculpt during his spare times. He modeled human and animal forms which he presented to the “Centre d’art” one day. The murals of Wilson Bigaud, Castera Bazile and Philome Obin at the Episcopal Cathedral in Port-au-Prince were for Joseph a true revelation. He became the only sculptor whose works are included there.
Joseph art works are filled with animals wandering through paradisiacal vegetation, but he is a humorist: these animals are most often satiric representations of well-known people He finds his inspiration in the pictures in religious works or children’s stories.
In his book entitled “Peintres Haitiens”, the author and art critic Gerald Alexis states “ while art should no doubt not be moralizing, an exception should be made for the lessons given by Jasmin Joseph”.
Today, Jasmin Joseph’s works are well acclaimed among art collectors in private and at galleries namely the Nader’s Art Galleries. His art figures in all the major art books. Among others, both Selden Rodman and Jean Marie Drot were moved by his tranquil strength and his genial animalist touch .