At Gateway: Ludie Sénatus

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December 14, 2018

Meditation on the Self

By Hailey Stangebye

Photos courtesy of Ludie Sénatus

The question ‘Who is Ludie Sénatus?’ has many potential answers.

I could tell you that she’s a Haitian-American artist; or that she was one of eight minority students at a small christian college in Kentucky; or even that she transferred schools, packed her life into two bins and moved to this city where she didn’t know a soul.

The best answer to that question, though, is a painting. Ludie’s piece, “Self Portrait,” sheds light on the fundamental nature of Ludie as a being.

“Self Portrait” by Ludie Sénatus

“One day, I woke up in the middle of the night,” Ludie says. “For the next two days I didn’t sleep. I just worked on my self portrait. It’s a very transcendental piece for me. I was going through a lot, and I’d always ask myself, ‘What is my purpose? What am I as a being?’”

“For the next two days I didn’t sleep. I just worked on my self portrait. It’s a very transcendental piece for me. I was going through a lot, and I’d always ask myself, ‘What is my purpose? What am I as a being?’”

“Self Portrait” is the result of that self-reflective meditation. This piece also launched Ludie in the stylistic direction for which she’s now known.

“The one lash is a theme throughout all of my work, but ‘Self Portrait’ was the first time I did that,” Ludie says. “It’s about closing your eyes to the distractions of life and getting to know your true and authentic self outside of your social status, outside of your race, outside of your sex, outside of your group of friends. Who are you as an individual being?”

Ludie’s “Self Portrait” is on display at The Gallery at the Gateway Film Center through February, along with two of her other pieces: “Passion” and “Allure.” She chose these works for this particular show because she says that authenticity and self expression are integral to the Harlem Renaissance movement we’re celebrating today.

“The Harlem Renaissance from 100 years ago is the same movement we’re creating now. It’s about bringing our art and who we are to the forefront and hoping that everyone else appreciates what it is that we bring to the table,” Ludie says. “I believe that that’s what my art depicts. It’s about being authentic, not being afraid to be yourself and encouraging others to do the same.”