Human world
Silva Joseph, master flag maker and Vodou ‘priest’ or oungan, sewing sequins on to a Vodou flag. Port-au-Prince, Haiti, 2000. In October 2000, the Museum commissioned Silva Joseph to make eight Vodou flags. You can see six of them hanging in the World Cultures gallery as you approach the entrance to the Americas section. Flags are used as altar pieces and may be worn over the shoulders during Vodou ceremonies.
Photo by Phil Cope.